BASKETBALL: A MIXED weekend saw Leopards record their first ever win at Reading Rockets, but see their National Cup dreams end with a narrow 82-79 home loss against Derby Trailblazers.

Mark Clark’s team had trailed by 11 going into the last five minutes of Sunday’s quarter-final at Brentwood, but despite a fine comeback, Simeon Espirit’s last gasp shot couldn’t send the game into overtime.

Josh Sharlow led the scoring for the home side with 20 points, six rebounds and four assists, while Espirit added 19 points. Despite playing under ten minutes in the first three periods due to foul trouble, 7ft centre Leigh Greenan finished with 13 points.

The Big Cats had rushed into a 17-8 lead, but were pegged back to 22-22 at the first break and went into the locker room trailing 37-34 at half-time.

A poor third period saw them down by eight at the final break, and they were down by double digits before a Greenan basket sparked a comeback.

Meanwhile, a strong fourth period saw Leopards win their first ever game in Reading as the Rockets were beaten 73-61.

The visiting side trailed by six points with seven minutes remaining, but held the Rockets scoreless for five minutes as they poured in 14 straight points before wrapping the win up from the foul line.

Sharlow again led the way for the Leopards with 19 points, nine rebounds and five assists, while Greenan added 14 points and five boards, with Josh Johnson (12) and Espirit (10) also finishing in double figures.

The Big Cats will look to continue that good away form on Saturday when they travel to Leeds Carnegie.

The Yorkshire side won their opening eight games of the season before going down at Manchester on Sunday.