MATCH REPORT: Rebels vs. Rockets
Travelling east for their fourth consecutive away game in 8 days was a tiring affair for the depleted Rockets team but again, they overcame adversity to return with the spoils and a deserved win.
The victory was looked the cards from the very first 3 minutes as Meshack Lufile scored eleven personal points as Rebels just couldn’t cope with his huge presence in and around the paint. As Rockets enjoyed a 15-4 advantage. Reis Pinnock had gone coast to coast and hit a jumper as he got his final game of the weekend off to a strong start. However, Rebels did as their name implies and disturbed Rockets as Rebels struck three trebles including a buzzer-beater to be just a single point adrift at the first break 22-23. Jaz Bains had hit Rockets only other treble of the opening quarter though he featured in a great passing exchange with 16 year old Isaac Round to finish off the glass.
The second period began with Lewis Champion fighting for possession with great floor hustle but seven unanswered Rebels points gave them the lead at 29-25 just three minutes into this quarter. Back comes Lufile with another inside score plus a penalty point as he was fouled in scoring, then Pinnock interception gave Lufile another inside score and the Rockets regained the lead. Rebels found themselves in team foul trouble as they tried each and every way to stop the Rockets’ power forward. A Pinnock steal was quickly released to Rockets captain Ben Dixon to score off the glass before Dixon sent an assist for the returning Sam Toluwase to score and extend Rockets lead. A wide Bains treble coupled to a Round pull-up score saw Rockets with a 13-0 run and a 42-29 advantage. However, the Rebels did what they did at the end of the first quarter by hitting another buzzer-beating treble to stay in the hunt at the interval as Rockets led 45-36 with Lufile amassing 21 points by this point.
Champion, Pinnock, and Lufile combined in the opening phase of quarter three to add to Rockets’ lead as they scored the first 7 points finishing with a 3 man move and Lufile slam-dunking moments before Pinnock did a double-handed slam dunk too. The 14 point advantage was soon reduced as Rebels hit a brace of trebles and a jump shot but a Pinnock fast drive and finish followed by a Bains score saw Rockets enjoy a 61-47. Despite a three-form three from the foul line by Toluwase and a Bains buzzer-beating treble, Rebels scored well to end the third period just 6 points adrift at 61-67.
From Rebels’ first possession of the final stanza, they hit a treble to get within a single score of Rockets. Was tiredness beginning to set in after such an arduous 4 games in 8 days? Champion sent an assist to Pinnock to stroke a treble before he sent another assist to Lufile to score causing Rebels to call a time-out at 7mins 43 secs to go and a 66-73 score. Champion scored off the glass but Rebels hit a treble before Rockets went into game management mode to see out the remainder of the game and take the win by 82-71.
Top scorers for Rockets were Meshack Lufile with 32 pts, 12 rebounds, and 4 blocks whilst Jaz Bains continued his rich vein of form to hit 16 pts and Reis Pinnock also continued in his rich vein with 14 pts, 9 rebounds, and 6 assists, and 5 steals in a comprehensive all-round performance.
Rockets now look forward to another doubleheader weekend making 6 games in 15 days, but both at are Rivermead this weekend tipping at 5 pm on Saturday and Sunday.