Manchester Magic maintained their unbeaten record when they won at Rivermead on Sunday afternoon by 82 to Rockets 57. A second half with clinical finishing clinched the win despite the Rockets' spirited and ever improving first twenty minutes. The Sayers brothers top scored - Jason on 16 points and 12 rebounds and Louis on 10 points, with Dan McKay also scoring 10.
Manchester shot out of the blocks with 10 unanswered points with Rockets’ old boy, ‘Tintin’ Watts, most prominent with rejections, blocks and 6 quick points. Robbie Parker got Rockets off the mark from the free throw line before hitting a glorious three. With Jason Sayers tipping in a couple of shots and scoring with a drive and four penalty shots, Rockets were back in the game. The quarter ended with Rockets having just a 4-point deficit at 14 – 18.
Within 40 seconds of the start of quarter two, Rockets were level thanks to a Jason Sayers 3 and one from two from the line. Simon Kearney drove to the basket and gave a pass to Dan McKay and then Fenny Falmagne showed Rockets’ spurt with great hustle. Rockets were playing very well but then Manchester hit 3 consecutive threes to open up a 29 – 20 lead. Some brilliant ball handling and passing by Rockets saw Jason Sayers stop the Manchester 11 – 0 run. Though Rockets traded scores for the reminder of the period, Manchester went into the interval with a 9-point advantage at 37 points to 28. Manchester’s three guard spearhead had amassed 33 of the 37 points between them with ex Rockets ‘Tintin’ scoring 12 points but from Rockets point of view, more tellingly, had 5 blocks and 5 rejections, though Jason Sayers topped all scorers with 14 points and 10 rebounds.
Dan McKay scored the bonus point having been fouled at the start of the third period and when Parker hit another three Rockets were just 6 points down. Each team swapped scores for a few minutes, including a dunk, but then Rockets were hit with a 13 –5 Manchester run. The game was played a very fast pace but Manchester’s finishing was more clinical and this proved to be the deciding factor in the fourth and final quarter, when Manchester scored 22 points to Rockets’ 11 points. Rockets’ field goal percentage was 50% inferior to Manchester though again all Rockets squad played a part.
Top scorers for Rockets were Jason Sayers with 16 points and 12 rebounds whilst Louis Sayers and Dan McKay both scored 10 points.
