Defeat in Birmingham

The Midlands host reversed the result of the previous Sunday with a narrow victory as they took a 6 point win against their namesakes at their Nechells Arena. This was the first of a most punishing schedule for the Berkshire outfit with 3 away games in the Midlands in 6 days. With a couple of players not at their usual very best coupled to an early ankle injury to their big centre Chris Alexander and a hand injury to captain Lewis Champion , Rockets struggled to keep tight to their Midland opponents.

Reis Pinnock of Reading Rockets. City of Birmingham Rockets VS Reading Rockets in the NBL!

With the hosts hitting three trebles in the opening exchanges and leading 10-2 , Rockets knew they had a fight on their hands and responded with four trebles of their own through Jermiah Jenkins ( two ), Mitch Clarke and Isaac Round though still trailed at the end of the first quarter 24-20. Zack Powell scored Rockets first points of the second period before Reis Pinnock made a lay up to draw the teams level on 27 but Birmingham hit another three trebles to extend their lead to double digits before a buzzer beating treble from Clarke saw the deficit 38-45 at the interval.

Round got Rockets off to a quick recovery as the third quarter began but the wind was taken out of Rockets sail
very literally as both Champion and Powell leapt high to defend a Birmingham offence only for Powell to land on Champion. Rockets still stayed close to Birmingham throughout this period with Powell and Jenkins hitting trebles , Clarke taking a charge and Pinnock scoring in the last few seconds to see Rockets just a single score behind at the end of the quarter 55-58.

Mitch Clarke of Reading Rockets. City of Birmingham Rockets VS Reading Rockets in the NBL!

Chris Alexander slam dunked to get Rockets within a point of the hosts and a Pinnock treble kept Rockets close at 62-64 before a 6-0 Birmingham run caused Rockets Head Coach Samit Nuruzade to call a time out. Elijah Maynard hit a jump shot and Jenkins converted three from three from the free throw line to see Rockets 67-70 down mid-way through the final quarter. Maynard scored three points and tied the game 70 and Alexander spun to tie it again on 72 as the last minute was near on the clock. Birmingham hit 5 points, three from the penalty stripe to lead 77-72 and a Rockets treble rimmed out. Clarke clawed one point back but Birmingham

countered it and when another treble just failed to drop Birmingham capitalised from the free throw line to take the win 81-75.