National Trophy Quarter Final
Reading Rockets 81 v Taunton Tigers 76
Sunday 17th January 2010 Rivermead Leisure Complex
After a 425 mile round trip the previous evening and a narrow one point loss to 2nd in the table, Rockets were forgiven for starting this National Trophy quarter final in somewhat of a daze finding themselves 24 points to 8 down in the first quarter.
However cup holders usually fight to retain their crown and how Rockets epitomised that fight was a pleasure to behold. At 12 points to 33 down early in the second period, Rockets clawed their way back with key threes from Adam Thoseby and Fenny Falmagne and improved work around the boards. There was no surprise when the computer that does the stats crashed (!!) as Rockets took the second period by 20 points to 18 to go to the locker room with a 28 to 42 point deficit.
Rockets Head Coach Sasa Punosevac had just 15 minutes to stir up his team and install new plans to curtail the high scoring of Taunton’s Paul Yabsley who had scored 21 of their 42 points – they did and he only scored 4 points in the remainder of the game. However the key ingredients were belief and determination as the team brought the best out in each other with Rockets’ Captain Ryan Lohfink leading by example and finishing with 28 personal points including 14 points in the final quarter.
The third period saw a long delay as Robbie Parker accidentally collided with another Rocket and a Taunton player and lay prostrate as the physio checked him out. The injury seemed to galvanise Rockets even more as when he had been recovered to the bench, both Fenny Falmagne and Ryan Lohfink made excellent steals before racing the whole length of the court and scoring moments before an exquisite move saw 17 year old sensation Adam Thoseby hit a sweet 3 pointer from way outside to cut Rockets deficit to just 6 points at 43 – 49. Though the Sayers brothers had a purple patch, Taunton didn’t want to relinquish their lead and with a couple of 3s, still led Rockets 64 – 56 as the final quarter beckoned.
And what a humdinger it was as the Rockets faithful found their voices and Rivermead came alight. Starting with great defence stopping Taunton scoring and causing them to have a 24 second violation, Rockets grew in stature and determination minute by minute. Lohfink worked exhaustively inside fighting for every board and every score as Parker returned to the floor and Kenny Saunders finished excellent breaks and moves by Rockets, scoring 9 personal points in the final 6 minutes.
With 3 minutes to go, Rockets had fought their way back to be just 5 down. Lohfink was fouled and hit a pair from the free throw line. Taunton hit a jump shot but Lohfink hit his second three of the quarter from the top of the key and then 2 more from the penalty stripe to level the scores with 1.49 to go. Saunders finished a Rockets’ fast break with 2 off the glass and a bonus point as he was fouled in scoring. Taunton came back but couldn’t find a way through Rockets’ tough defence and when Louis Sayers took the defensive boards, Taunton fouled him with just 11 seconds left. The cool 17 year old hit both his free throws to ensure a semi final place for Rockets.
Top scorers for Rockets were Ryan Lohfink 28, Kenny Saunders 11 and Robbie Parker 9.
