LANCASHIRE Spinners will visit the Derby Trailblazers in the first round of the National Basketball League play-offs on Saturday (7.15pm).

The Spinners rounded off the regular season with an 89-77 home win against Essex Leopards on Saturday to finish in a four-way tie with Northumbria, Essex and London.

All had a 16-10 record in Division One, forcing seeding to come down to a miniature head-to-head league, with Lancashire edging out London for the seventh seed, meaning they avoid regular season champions Manchester Magic and face second seed Derby.

“The players did great all season and are deservedly rewarded with a chance to claim that elusive trophy,” said the Spinners’ general manager Ken Masser.

Lancashire are 2-1 against Derby this season, reaching the quarter-finals of the National Cup and National Trophy only to be knocked out of both competitions.

Derby will feel they have the upper hand having beaten Lancashire 78-66 on March 12.

Statistically it was one of the worst games of the season for the Spinners but they were back on form on Saturday.

Guard Steven Gayle scored 23 points including a half-court shot to beat the third-quarter buzzer. Kyle Carey finished with 18 points while George Darling and Mark Rangeley each had 10.

Tied at 4-4 early in the opening quarter, Connor Murtagh knocked down a three-pointer and Lancashire never looked back, leading by 22 points in the first half.

“We ended the year with one our best performances so if we can play like that it puts us in a great position to advance in the play-offs,” said small forward Carey.