In a fast tempo competitive game, played with a very good temperament, Rockets came from behind to secure a deserved victory where an 18 year old and a 17 year old were most prominent and highlighted the success of Rockets' youth development and Academy programme.
Adam Thoseby who'd top scored the night before at Leicester with 12 points had an exceptional game again, hitting 25 personal points with 3 assists and 2 rebounds.
Reading Rockets 91 Coventry Crusaders 81
Sunday 24th January 2010 4pm tip Rivermead Leisure Complex
In a fast tempo competitive game, played with a very good temperament, Rockets came from behind to secure a deserved victory where an 18 year old and a 17 year old were most prominent and highlighted the success of Rockets' youth development and Academy programme.
Adam Thoseby who'd top scored the night before at Leicester with 12 points had an exceptional game again, hitting 25 personal points with 3 assists and 2 rebounds. The England Under 18 guard converted 10 of 13 field goals including 3 from 3 from 3-point range. Adam was ably assisted by 17 year old Louis Sayers who scored 17 points and the experienced American Kenny Saunders who achieved a double double with 21 points and 12 rebounds.
Nonetheless this was a good team performance where Coach Punosevac was able to rest the experienced players suffering with niggling injuries, much to the delight of Rockets' busiest person before tip – Rockets' physio Jess Pascall. One such player, Robbie Parker, started the game and made a major contribution in the opening quarter hitting 7 personal points whilst Kenny Saunders was blocking shots at one end and slam dunking at the other. Coventry finished the quarter well including a buzzer beating two to take a 24 – 23 lead into the second period.
A super spin move by Saunders followed by a brilliant steal and coast to coast two by Jon May gave Rockets a narrow lead. Thoseby and Louis Sayers finished crisp Rockets' moves with superb three pointers as Rockets led 41 – 39 at the interval.
Coventry drew level early in the third period but then Thoseby imposed himself with a scintillating 10 minutes including a fake and off the glass two, 100% from the free throw line and a pair of wide threes, giving him 12 personal points as Rockets turned up the heat and won the quarter with a telling 27 points to 15 – much of the time with just the junior and Academy players on court together.
With Rockets having a 68 -54 lead, Coventry were certainly not out of it as in Olinger and Payne they have sweet shooting guards who scored 5 shots beyond the arc as they took the final period 27 points to 23 but it was appropriate that man of the match Adam Thoseby finished a great fast Rockets break with a two handed slam dunk and the ever improving Lukas Aleksandravicius sank 2 from 2 from the line to give Rockets a 10 point win by 91 – 81.
Top scorers for Rockets: Adam Thoseby 25, Kenny Saunders 21 and Louis Sayers 17.
