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Boss Matt Shaw says taking Derby Trailblazers to a major cup final for the first time in almost 25 years would be “something special” for the semi-professional second tier side.<\/span><\/p>\n Derby were a top-flight side called Storm when they lost the British Basketball League (BBL) Trophy final in 1999, and are now the lowest ranked side left in the competition.<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n They host top-flight side Caledonia Gladiators in Wednesday’s semi-final.<\/span><\/p>\n “It’s already a highlight,” Shaw said.<\/span><\/p>\n “It’s not something we ever expected at the start of the season. It would be something really special just to get to the final.<\/span><\/p>\n “We are not thinking about winning the whole thing, just that next match. If we did, it would be something for the whole city to get behind.”<\/span><\/p>\n While Derby have surprised with their progress in the competition this season, they are a side that boast silverware-winning pedigree. Last season they won the L Lynch Trophy – a cup competition for second tier clubs playing in the National Basketball League (NBL).<\/span><\/p>\n The Trailblazers, who have ambitions to return top-flight basketball to Derby, are just the second side from the NBL to reach the last four of the top-tier BBL Trophy.<\/span><\/p>\n After reaching the quarter-finals last season, the Trailblazers were again among the semi-professional teams invited to compete this term.<\/span><\/p>\n They have already upstaged BBL side Plymouth City Patriots 99-89 to go one better than last season, and now face a Caledonia side that are fourth in the top-flight table.<\/span><\/p>\n “We know how hard it’s going to be,” Shaw told BBC East Midlands Today.<\/span><\/p>\n “In some ways the BBL Trophy is a free swing for us, with no expectations.”<\/span><\/p>\n It will be a packed house at Derby’s Clarence Wiggins Sports Centre home on Wednesday, with tickets for the semi-final selling out.<\/span><\/p>\n Malcolm Smith, whose 36 points against Plymouth in the quarter-final was instrumental in their progress, said the crowd will “play a big role”.<\/span><\/p>\n “The past couple of years we have accomplished a lot of firsts,” he said.<\/span><\/p>\n “If we can keep that momentum going and get to our first BBL Trophy final that would be great for us.<\/span><\/p>\n “We have done a lot of good things this season and we want to keep it rolling.”<\/span><\/p>\n