ROCKETS TRIUMPH IN SEASON OPENER
READING Rockets ensured their season got off to the perfect start as they stormed to victory away at Oaklands Wolves.
In their first game in front of spectators and their first official game of the new season, Rockets stormed out of the blocks, lit up the arena on many occasions and took their first victory by some margin against a young Wolves in St Albans on Saturday evening.
Head Coach Dan Pearson had his hands full for his first game with new signing Reis Pinnock, picked up from league champions Solent Kestrels and only meeting many of his team mates on the team transport coupled to three senior absentees.
Pearson used his academy youngsters as he did in the friendly tournament last weekend as he considers each one able to make major contributions on the floor
whenever they’re called upon.
Pearson had Sam Toluwase available for the first time and Lewis Champion was shirted up to try out his damaged finger.
All players and coaches took the knee before tip and were socially distanced on the bench but once the game began Rockets Tyler Cartanio opened his and Rockets accounts with great defence.
Moments later, he scored off an offensive rebound and sent a dish to Jaz Bains to stroke a treble Bains and Cartanio continued to trouble the Wolves who’d hardly beared their teeth in the opening quarter which Rockets took 30-13.
One highlight of this period was A J Basi throwing a quick pass to Cartanio who returned the compliment for Basi to stroke a treble.
Rockets kept pressing the Wolves and good team defences helped Oaklands turn the ball over as Rockets intercepted a number of passes to easily score with Reis Pinnock prominent here.
Champion was secure form the free throw line as they opened up a 50-13 lead having stopped Wolves scoring till 3 minutes form the half time interval when Wolves went on a 7-0 run to finish the period 20-54 adrift of Rockets.
A Cartanio score and a Bains rejection set the scene for the third quarter before Basi drove and Toluwase converted a pair of free throw giving Rockets a 40 point advantage at 62-22.
A brace of trebles from Wolves gave them encouragement either side of a Live Kivuvu score. An excellent Rockets trap saw Bains benefit with an easy score as Basi continued to influence the game, spraying passes all around the court as Rockets went into the last period 76-34 ahead.
Rockets didn’t let the speed slow down at all and continued putting pressure on the young Wolves with a 23-13 final stanza which included a three point play followed by a slam dunk from Toluwase.
A Pinnock lay up was quickly followed by a big rejection by Ronnie Oguekwe finished his personal tally with yet another slam dunk as Rockets took the scalp of the Oaklands Wolves in the LLynch Trophy pool game.