Sunday afternoon saw Rockets give one of their best team performances of the season as they lit up the Loddon arena hitting 66% of trebles and making a 19-0 run to secure a 41 point win. As the day before Mitch Clarke was out of the traps very quickly stroking a brace of trebles, this time ably assisted by Elijah Maynard who did likewise whilst Reis Pinnock, Jermiah Jenkins and Lewis Champion also hit trebles seeing Rockets with a 29-21 opening quarter lead.
Young Isaac Round drove to score as the second period began though Cavaliers hit back with a 5-0 run cutting Rockets advantage. However Rockets shooting success from beyond the arc was the highest it’s been at 66% as Maynard hit a fade away treble and Zack Powell hit a glorious treble too . When the two of them combined for Maynard to stroke his third of the first half and Powell matched him, Rockets went to the interval with a 51-40 lead.
A 27-11 third quarter emphasised just how well Rockets were playing as the supporters were creating a crescendo of noise and appreciation at The Valley. It began with Clarke again accurate beyond the arc as was Maynard and Pinnock who was truly ‘on fire’ offensively whilst also sending 7 assists to his colleagues and making a brace of steals from which Rockets scored. Both teams were penalised with technical fouls but it was Round who was secure from the free throw line that ended Rockets scoring for this period.
A final quarter of 26-12 was another dazzling display of team play, strong defence and electric shooting by the hosts though again Cavaliers went on a 5-0 run . Chris Alexander worked tirelessly inside without his injured partner Fin Porter scoring 11 pts as Clarke hit 15 and Pinnock a season high 21 pts though Elijah Maynard was the Player of the Game with 28 pts, 7 assists and 3 steals.
A very satisfied crowd left The Valley looking forward to entertaining title defenders and title chasing Hemel Storm on Sun 10th March at 4 pm as each team vies for a top four league position to have a home tie in the Play-off Championship quarter final. .
