A 39 point performance from Troy Cracknell led the Rockets to a nail-biting 93-87 win over the Loughborough Riders in the KitKing Trophy
Cracknell finished with 39 points on 63% shooting, but also finished with 13 rebounds. It was an all-around performance and was very much needed as Loughborough would cause all kinds of problems for the Rockets. Jordan Jackson would finish on 18 points on 9-11 shooting with Jermiah Jenkins coming alive late in the game, also finishing on 18 points, this time on 7-12 shooting.
Justin Hedley led the Riders with 25 points on 58% shooting in a very balanced scoring attack for Loughborough, who had five players with over 10 points.
It was a tight lipped, fast paced first quarter as it ended with the Rockets up 24-22. Jordan Jackson was the leader early on, finishing the quarter with 10 points on 5-5 shooting. The Riders had no answer for Jackson in the paint and the Rockets kept going to it until he subbed out.
The Rockets found themself with a 7-0 start before Elijah Bailey put a sweet move into the teeth of the defense and started the Riders charge. Harrison Gamble found himself open for three to bring Loughborough within two, but a barrage of long two’s would extend the Rockets lead. Led by Jackson, Jenkins, and Lewis Champion the pick and roll offense would leave them open to get the lead as high as nine points.
The Riders would go on a 14-6 run in the final four and a half minutes to bring the lead within two at the end of the first.
The second quarter would remain back and forth with the Riders switching to a zone defense, which they found success with. On the offensive end, they continued their strong end of the first with a Conor O’Reilly three giving the Riders their first lead.
Cracknell would end the Rockets second quarter drought by scoring the next five and tying the game back up.
Through their zone defense, the Riders would cause multiple errors from the Rockets and found themself up four before a Cracknell three halted what could have been a run. Cracknell had found his range by this point as he went on a 10-2 run by himself as the Rockets found themselves up 5 at half.
The Riders found some inside presence to get back into the game to start the third, which the Rockets tried to respond to, but this left Joe Bielak wide open for three, which he nailed to give Loughborough the lead once again. Coach Samit Nuruzade was visibly upset and immediately called a timeout.
It didn’t matter however as Bailey blew by the Rockets defense for a layup and then nailed a three. After two Justin Hedley free throws, another potential run was brewing for the Riders, which was immediately stopped once again, this time by Champion.
A couple of long twos with a couple of layups would bring the Riders lead back down to just five, but a ten point swing since the start of the quarter meant Loughborough had control of the game.
The game remained intense to start the fourth as Cracknell stole a pass and went to the line. He hit one but the Riders immediately responded at the other end, setting a pin down screen for Gamble, who nailed the three.
Another screen for Gamble would see him find space in the corner, which he passed up on for a Dion Collins open layup. Bailey then forced a turnover and got fouled on his way up to the rack. He missed the second, but Gamble collected the rebound and found Bielak open for three to bring up an eight point lead for the Riders.
After Gamble couldn’t get a layup after multiple attempts, Jenkins went down the other end and nailed a three pointer, which was met with a loud roar from the home fans.
This would be the catapult for the Rockets down 86-80 with three minutes to go, Jenkins found Jackson in transition for a dunk. The real turning point of the game came just 15 seconds later as Bailey would be called for an offensive foul, which meant he was fouled out of the game. Jenkins used this as a momentum swinger as he took a heat check three, which he nailed to give the Rockets an 87-86 lead with just two and a half minutes left.
With just 35 seconds to go, Bielak found himself with space for three but couldn’t hit it. Cracknell would get fouled on the defensive rebound and since the Riders were in the penalty, he went to the line and hit two clutch free throws.
The Riders had one more attempt to tie the game but Jackson picked off a pass going inside, ending the game. The Rockets outscored Loughborough 27-16 in the fourth to overcome a tough test.