National Cup quarter final
Reading Rockets 80 v Bristol Academy Flyers 84
Rivermead Leisure Complex Sunday 29th November tip off 6 pm
Bristol won the tip and opened the scoring though a couple of fine drives by Simon Kearney and a brilliant arrow pass from Ryan Lohfink to Kenny Saunders to finish saw Rockets soon lead. However this Flyers team is full of quality and with a place in the National Cup Semi final up for grabs, upped their game and led 21 – 18 at the first break.
An Adam Thoseby interception which released Saunders for a dunk launched Rockets into the second quarter. When Dan McKay, Thoseby and Robbie Parker took great defensive boards enabling Rockets to score off 3 consecutive fast breaks, everyone in Rivermead knew we were in for a titanic affair. A glorious bounce pass from Parker to Lohfink and a buzzer beating three by Parker saw the teams level on 39 points apiece at the interval.
The third quarter was Rockets' best as Louis Sayers, Saunders and Parker (with a pair) hit 3 pointers; Fenny Falmagne went coast to cost and Lohfink drove determinedly to add 7 points to his personal tally as Rockets maintained pressure defence on Flyers and scored very effectively. Rockets had opened up a 9-point lead at 64 – 55 going into the final period.
However Bristol shot out of the blocks as the fourth quarter began going on an 11 – 2 run and levelling the scores on 66 points. Each team scored on their next pair of offences before Bristol nudged four points ahead. Despite Saunders and McKay adding to Rockets total and a superb three from Parker leaving Rockets just 2 points adrift with 3 seconds lefty, it was Bristol who were stoic and moved into the semi final draw of the National Cup with a 4 point victory.
Top scorers for Rockets were Robbie Parker 18, Ryan Lohfink 17 and Kenny Saunders 15
