Tees Valley Mohawks 60 Reading Rockets 101

Saturday 30th January 2010 Tip off 6.30 pm

Olympia Building, University of Teesside

Rockets travelled to their most northern game without the services of Belgian point guard Fenny Falmagne through injury whilst Jon May and Robbie Parker are still carrying niggling injuries but were available.

Rockets' starting five included 18 year old Adam Thoseby who's in a rich vein of form scoring 37 points last weekend, and Kenny Saunders who's been coming off the bench in recent weeks. The new coaching team of Matt Johnson and JP Campbell saw Rockets score first but Tees Valley Mohawks' ex BBL player, Steve Leven hit 8 quick points to take an early lead. A buzzer beating shot by Jon May brought Rockets level but his steal, moments later, and incisive pass to captain Ryan Lohfink set the style of play after Rockets' time out. Robbie Parker and Louis Sayers hit threes and Lukas Aleksandravicius rebounded superbly to take the offensive boards. With Lohfink finishing well inside, Rockets went to the first break with a 24 points to 20 lead but tellingly Leven had scored 16 of Mohawks' points including three three pointers.

The second quarter saw Rockets dominate the floor, passing more effectively, hustling for the ball, outrebounding Tees Valley on the boards and finishing moves clinically as they took it 29 points to 10. The two young guards, Adam Thoseby and Louis Sayers hit crucial threes, while Aleksandravicius enjoyed more court time with Falmagne sidelined creating opportunities for others and finishing from the free throw line when fouled. Lohfink continued to cause Mohawks trouble inside as he amassed 15 points by the interval when Rockets led 53 points to 30. Rockets had not only kept Mohawks to 10 points but to just 2 field goals as 6 of the points had been scored from the free throw line – a great effort by a determined Rockets team.

With each Rockets player having scored and with equal contributions from all on the court, the Rockets' development programme was clearly evident as the blend of youth and experience shone through. Though Mohawks sat back in a zone defence, Rockets still penetrated with Saunders helping himself to 7 points and the three teenagers, Thoseby, Louis Sayers and Aleksandravicius hitting superb 3 point shots from creative play by Rockets. A Jon May steal and coast to coast 2 was a delight to see whilst Parker stopped a certain Mohawks score and the Saunders v Leven match up ensued on the court. A 24 – 19 period saw Rockets extend their lead to 28 points as the buzzer went.

With a 77 – 49 lead, Rockets were not going to take their foot off the pedal despite Mohawks' noisy and pressure defence. With the elder Sayers brother, Jason, sinking an early three and finishing 3 other quality Rockets moves, Rockets extended their lead. A determined Jon May drive coupled to an arrow pass to Louis Sayers on the wing saw Louis sink another three as he finished with 5 trebles in his 21 points. Thoseby stole the ball and strode the length of the court to finish with a slam dunk which he followed up moments later with great hustle on the floor and an exquisite block to deny Mohawks again. As the seconds ticked by Rockets wanted to reach a century of points and what a clinical final move it was that saw Thoseby free, wide on the wing, and he hit a sweet three to draw the game to a close with Rockets victorious by 101 points to 60.

A very good and encouraging team performance for Rockets' new coaching team, led by Matt Johnson.

Top scorers for Rockets were Louis Sayers 21, Ryan Lohfink 19 and Kenny Saunders, Jason Sayers and Adam Thoseby all on 15.