Hemel Storm 82 v 78 Reading Rockets
Still without Rockets’ leading scorer Tyler Cartaino together with the absent Sam Toluwase, compassionate grounds, Rockets, yet again for the third game in 7 days, gave one of their best team performances of the season and came within the last minute of victory.
The game had a 30-minute delay before the tip due to bleacher seating issues. After the initial look at each other for the opening 5 minutes, Rockets upped the pace and deservedly went into the first break 20-14 up. The talented Storm came back with a 9-0 run to get within a single point of Rockets at 29-30 but captain Ben Dixon was secure from the free-throw line. Again Storm came back with a 3 point play to draw the game at 32 and 34 before Rockets power forward Meshack Lufile further imposed himself on proceedings with excellent inside score moments before the combo guard Jaz Bains continued his very rich vein of form with a treble and an assist to Dixon to do likewise seeing Rockets up 46-36 before the last play before the interval from which Storm hit a treble to leave Rockets leading 46-39. Bains had scored 21 points, taken down 6 rebounds, and made 2 assists by the interval with Lufile commanding the boards with 9 rebounds and Dixon in double figures too.
Despite Storm having the first possession of the third quarter, it was Rockets who extended their lead with a Bains drive and score coupled to a Dixon replica seeing Rockets 11 points up. Storm came back again with a quick 5-0 run though the Rockets held a 6 or 7 point lead throughout the period until they exploded again in the last 3 minutes with Bains driving to the basket and sending an exquisite pass to Lufile to score and draw the foul. Moments later Lufile returned the compliment with an assist to Bains to stroke another treble before 16 yo Isaac Round copied the assist to Reis Pinnock to also hit a wide treble. Lewis Champion drove to make the final score of the quarter leaving Rockets with a 69-60 lead going into the final period.
Excellent team play saw Round score giving Rockets an 11 point advantage at the very start of quarter four. Storm kept the pressure up, double-teaming the excellent Bains as they tried to stop him from having the influence he had had this time but Lufile worked tirelessly inside to score with an offensive rebound and moments later do the same but this time he was called for travel. Another Storm treble kept the game scores close and a Pinnock assist to Lufile to slam dunk saw Rockets with a 75- 67 advantage at the midway stage of the final quarter. Storm hit 4 quick points before a controversial decision went Storm’s way as Rockets believed they’d caused Storm into a 24-second violation at 2mins 49 to go. However, after much chatting between the officials, Storm were given possession from which they scored to get within 2 points of disappointed Rockets followers before Storm hit a treble to take the lead at 76-75 with 1 minute 48 seconds remaining. Bains came up with a treble to ease Rockets ahead 78-76 but when they fouled a three-point Storm shooter, Newman hit 2 from 3 but Storm took the offensive rebound off the final shot to lead 80-78 as the game entered the last minute. A treble effort rimmed out for the Rockets and Storm scored with 17.4 seconds left and with it an 82-78 with for Hemel.
Another great advert for top basketball and an awesome performance by a very depleted Rockets who probably deserved the victory.
Top Rockets scorers were Jaz Bains who hit 29 pts with Meshack Lufile having a double-double with 20 pts and 14 rebounds as captain Ben Dixon scored 14 pts but this was another excellent team performance from Rockets.