Reading Rockets 99 v 72 London Lions II
Without injured captain Ben Dixon who stopped two of the three offences the afternoon before to seal a key win, but buoyed by the return of Sam Toluwase, Rockets eased through to the Play-off Championship quarter final with a resounding win against a young and talented Lions team though the experience of Rockets was too much for them to contain.
Rockets exploded from the tip with a 13-3 run causing an early time out by the visitors. A Danny Carter assist to Sam Toluwase gave the forward a slam as Rockets moved to a 21-3 before a brace of trebles gave the Lions some heart though they finished the opening exchanges 23-10 adrift.
Then Lions took the second quarter 24-23 with Elijah Maynard hitting 19 of their 24 points as he lit up the response even though a Jaz Bains treble was quickly followed by a Bains assist to Reis Pinnock to also score a treble and see Rockets 29-11 ahead. Some great team work saw Carter send an assist to Tyler Cartaino score and convert the extra free throw before he helped Meshack Lufile to an inside score seeing Rockets 34-14 ahead causing yet another Lions time-out just 3 minutes into the period.. And how well the Lions roared with a 20-12 run including three trebles. An arrow pass from Toluwase to Lufile was highlight before Cartaino sent Toluwase to the slam dunk score again . Pinnock and Bains stroked trebles leaving the home team with a reduced advantage of 46-34 at the interval.
Could the Lions keep up this ferocious attack? As much as they tried Rockets stormed the third quarter 27-17 as Cartaino hit 10 personal points as he drove determinedly on four occasions drawing fouls twice and finishing on another occasion and hitting a pair of free throws on the fourth. Toluwase was enjoying himself with yet another slam dunk and Carter completed Rockets scoring with an inside move, score and extra point from the penalty stripe leaving Rockets comfortably ahead 73- 51.
Jaz Bains hit three trebles in the last quarter to become the games second top scorer with 20 points, thanks mainly to an assist from Carter and a pair of assists from Cartaino though Bains returned the favour for Cartaino to drain a treble. Cartaino continued his display with awesome assist and steals as he gave Rockets big man Lufile a slam dunk. The 30 point lead was the trigger for Head Coach Dan Pearson to release three of his academy boys onto court and how well they responded to the opportunity as Isaac Round stroked a treble which Ashely Kitchen matched moments later before Round finished Rockets scoring with a floater easing Rockets easing Rockets into the play-offs in a season plagued by serious and long injuries to the team.
Top scorers for Rockets were Meshack Lufile with 23 pts and 7 rebounds as Jaz Bains hit 20 pts with 5 rebounds and 4 assists. Tyler Cartaino hit 18 pts with 8 assists and 4 steals whilst Sam Toluwase had a double double with 13 pts and 11 rebounds, 4 assists and 4 steals as both players had well rounded performances . Reis Pinnock hit 10 pts, took down 5 rebounds and had 6 assists as Rockets now look forward to their last home league game on Sunday at The Mead tipping at 5 pm against Team Newcastle University whom they defeated by 2 points just 8 weeks ago on the road so a close encounter assured.
Depending on the result of Rockets appeal against a 2 point deduction for a Covid violation, victory could give Rockets seventh place in the league and a likely away tie against Thames Valley Cavaliers the first weekend in April in the Play-off quarter final.