EBL Division 1 Medway Park Crusaders 72 Reading Rockets 84
Medway Park Saturday 4th February 2012 Tip off 5 pm
In a game of very high quality basketball, Rockets avenged their home defeat before Christmas with a resounding and deserved victory. Long term absentee Steve Vaughan is making progress with his ankle ligament damage but is definitely out for at least another 4 - 6 weeks but Robbie Parker was pleased to be returning to his old club where he still ranks as their second highest points scorer in the club's history.
Though Crusaders won the tip Kastytis Normantas stole the ball and scored a lay-up with just 6 seconds gone. Crusaders hit a three with their first offence but Rockets, via Captain Ryan Lohfink, recaptured the lead which they were to hold for the remainder of the game. Normantas had a shot come back off the ring but he rose to take the rebound to score again, moments before his second steal of the game and another two points causing Crusaders to take a time-out. Young Lewis Champion drove to the basket before giving a sweet pass to Lohfink to score. Parker hit the first of his four three pointers in the first half (a 100% shooting percentage and what a return). Lohfink was again the beneficiary of a great arrow pass from Normantas as he took his tally to six points in the quarter and giving Rockets a 16 -2 run and an eleven point lead....a margin they were also to keep for almost the rest of the game. Sam Simon scored off an offensive rebound to thrill the bench and travelling supporters. Harrison Gamble showed the determination Rockets had to keep the lead and win in the league for the first time for four games as he dived and hustled on the floor to keep possession with Rockets. Though Crusaders had a 5 - 0 run to finish the first period Rockets went into the break 23 -13 up.
Lohfink drove and scored well to start the second quarter and Normantas had yet another fine steal which he finished with a double handed dunk, moments before hitting a pair big threes, finishing another 10 - 2 Rockets run. Luke Nelson came in for Normantas as Gamble hit a three pointer from the top of the key at the end of some fast and accurate passing by all the players.....a joy to watch and silencing the stunned Crusader supporters. Champion and Gamble hit jump shots before Parker hit a pair of threes as Rockets leapt into a 21 point lead with four minutes till half time. Nelson threw a piercing pass to Lohfink to finish with his bread and butter finish around the basket but Crusaders then had their best run of the game , 13 - 3 before Jon May gave Gamble an easy lay-up to take Rockets to the locker room with a 50 -39 lead.
Normantas and Lohfink picked up their third fouls so were rested as the youngsters, Champion and Nelson imposed themselves on the game with great offensive and defensive qualities and action. Crusaders hit a pair of quick threes in response to a fade away shot from Parker and a Gamble lay-up but Rockets kept the double digit lead. Nelson then had a brilliant couple of minutes with an outrageous 3 pointer which he followed up with a block to stop Crusaders scoring and then a drive which he finished with a left hand lay-up before hitting a second big three extending Rockets lead to 16 points. Some great defence by Parker and a quick thinking Champion inbound for Simon to score kept Rockets tempo and when Normantas gave Simon a lay-up opportunity, he scored again and Rockets ended the period 72 - 58 up.
The final quarter started with a Nelson steal seconds before Normantas tripped and pulled a hamstring meaning he couldn't play any further part in this pulsating game, of which he had played a significant part till this injury. A couple of Rockets shots rimmed out and Crusaders hit six quick points but Rockets held fast to that ten point lead midway through this fourth period at 74 - 64. Lohfink was called for his fourth foul moments after both he and May were called for travel as they each scored though the points didn't count. A May steal and a Gamble big defensive rebound stopped Crusaders as they fought for a win and cut the lead to eight points. Then a Crusaders three caused their supporters to be heard. However this was when the 16 and 18 year olds stood firm, showed immense strength of character and saw Rockets through to a deserved victory as Nelson hit 6 from 6 from the line and Champion 2 from 2 to secure an 84 - 72 win.
Top scorers were Luke Nelson19 points, Ryan Lohfink 16 points and both Kastytis Normantas and Robbie Parker 14 points each with Harrison Gamble scoring 9 and Sam Simon having his biggest contribution with 8 points.
