Reading Rockets 89 v 82 Worthing Thunder
With a 2 point league penalty deduction still hurting Rockets, Head Coach Dan Pearson knows the final 5 games of the league season are paramount to them challenging for the Play-off Championship. A determined and driven Rockets took to the floor at the Thunderdome in Worthing only to see Thunder storm out of the blocks and convert a slam dunk with their first offense. However this Rockets team, despite the absence of major defender Reis Pinnock to Covid, has much mettle and responded through the game’s leading scorer Tyler Cartaino and Sam Toluwase before captain Ben Dixon stroked a treble. With power forward Meshack Lufile spinning to score and Jaz Bains hitting the first of his three trebles, Rockets led 16-8 mid way through the opening quarter. Bains hit a pull up jump shot either side of a Danny Carter spin followed by a hook shot keeping Rockets 4 points ahead before Lewis Champion made the first of his 6 assists to Lufile to see Rockets with a 26-21 advantage at the end of the opening period.
A great team move saw Cartaino drain a treble before he struck a second from the top of the key. Champion hit one from two from the free throw line to give Rockets what turned out to be their biggest lead of the game at 33-21 and also causing Thunder to call a time out just over a minute into the second quarter. Thunder hit four unanswered points and the noise in the Thunderdome increased proportionately and though Bains hit a wide three, Thunder struck consecutive trebles as they found their shooting form and fought back to just five points adrift at 36-31 mid way into the second period. Six more Thunder points saw them take the lead for the first time in the game with their biggest scoring run of 12-0 to lead 37-36. Before the quarter was out, the teams tied on 37 and 39 before another late burst form Thunder saw them go to the locker room leading 45-41 having taken the quarter 24-15.
Worse was to come for Rockets as they found themselves ten points down early in the third quarter as Thunder hit 6 unanswered points. Despite a Lufile inside score, Thunder enjoyed their biggest lead at 54-43. The determined Rockets clawed their way back into the game as Cartaino hit a treble and Dixon made a jump shot before the pair worked together again as Dixon gave a great assist to Cartaino to cut the deficit to 50-54. Lufile continued his work inside for Rockets but Thunder veteran Zaire Taylor scored with a couple of consecutive trebles as Thunder hoped to move away form Rockets. The visitors came back once again with five quick Cartaino points and a Carter reverse lay up to draw the teams close before a pair by Bains and Cartaino from the penalty stripe gave Rockets a 11-0 run and a single score lead. Thunder finished the period with their fifth treble tying the ,game on 66 points apiece going to the fourth.
Which of these very competitive teams would prevail? Could Rockets cause another upset and topple another title challenger? Rockets burst out of the gates at the start of the fourth quarter with a 6-0 run and maintained a lead of between 6 – 9 points for the rest of the game with superb team play anda well-executed gameplan, keeping the pace fast and ultimately wearing down the talented Thunder. Bains hit a brace of trebles and Cartaino covered every inch of the court in another excellent display from the guard while captain Dixon was very influential as per usual. An 11-2 Rockets run hurt Thunder and though they got back to just two down in the end game scenario, it was the experienced Rockets who used the clock well and scored at crucial times to secure a well-deserved victory in Worthing by 89-82 .
Top scorers for Rockets were Tyler Cartaino with 31 pts, 7 rebounds 3 assists and 2 steals in an all-round excellent performance as Jaz Bains was on top shooting form as he scored 20 pts, took down 6 rebounds and also had 6 assists and 2 steals. Meshack Lufile hit 16 pts and took down 9 rebounds as Ben Dixon had 13 pts, 3 assists and 2 steals. Rockets now go into their next fixture on Sunday at Rivermead against National Cup champions Derby Trailblazers tipping at 5 pm.