THE Basingstoke Blizzards basketball team won their derby at old foes REME Arborfield 88-40.

After a slow start, the visitors took a 5-4 lead and, helped by Rob Gerrard’s two three-pointers, hit 13 unanswered points on their way to a 22-6 lead at the end of the first quarter.

It was big men Aaron Taylorson and Rob Bloomer who piled on the points after the break.

Taylorson finished the quarter with his own three-pointer, which gave the Blizzards a comfortable 40-18 lead.

REME kept in touch as the Basingstoke side missed some easy buckets, but the Blizzards then forced the issue with some good steals and great assists from Gerrard, Taylorson and Damion Isaac.

The ball movement looked smooth and the fast breaks accumulated the points, with Adam Paddon beating the buzzer for a three-pointer.

The Blizzards had a massive 61-29 advantage going into the final quarter and they went on to cruise to an 88-40 victory, with even Basingstoke coach Marcel Mavronicholas making an appearance on the court, and getting two points thanks to an assist from Gerrard.

The Blizzards are next in home action against the Farnborough Phantoms on January 7 (tip-off 8.25pm) at Queen Mary’s College.

Scoring: Taylorson 28pts, Gerrard 25, Bloomer 17, Haynes 5 Isaac 4, Paddon 3, Darlow, M Mavronicholas, T Mavronicholas 2.