Following Saturday evening’s game in the Midlands Rockets entertained the league champions and National Cup finalists on Sunday afternoon, still without Head Coach Dan Pearson suffering with Covid.
The illness had befallen some players too the previous week so a double header of effort was the least the team needed as recovery to full fitness is slow.
Nonetheless Rockets put on a very spirited performance leading the game until the final moments before the half time interval.
Reis Pinnock, who transferred from Solent early in the season, was everywhere as he stroked trebles, drove determinedly to the basket and flew high to take down rebounds in an excellent performance which inspired the team.
Pinnock opened Rockets scoring with a drive and lay up which Jaz Bains followed with a fade away score before Lewis Champion drove and scored.
Solent made their first score but again Bains sent an assist to Pinnock who hit a wide treble and then Meshack Lufile took down his own rebound to score.
When Bains struck a treble from way beyond the top of the key, Rivermead was rocking with delight.
Sam Toluwase then scored off an offensive rebound and Lufile worked an opening inside giving Rockets a 20-11 lead. A Solent time-out changed their focus and they hit five of the last seven points to finish adrift of Rockets who led 26-20 at the first break.
Solent scored off their first possession but a Bains assist to Lufile helped him to a jump score before Pinnock rose high to take down a defensive rebound and then stormed up court to hit a top of the key treble.
A pair of Toluwase scores including a slam saw Rockets with an 11 point advantage at 37-26 as Rockets continued with their upbeat and very watchful team play. Unfortunately Rockets found themselves in team foul trouble which Kestrels capitalised on together with hitting a brace of trebles to reduce Rockets lead to just a single point with three minutes to the interval.
More penalty free throws gave Kestrels the lead but a superb treble from way out wide by Ashley Kitchen saw the score 46-43 in Kestrels favour at half time.
The third quarter began with a Bains treble rimming out before he scored, drew the foul and made a three point play.
Pinnock spun and made a similar three point play before Dixon stroked a treble to see the teams drawn on 56 and then 59 points apiece.
However then Kestrels went on a game winning streak as they hit four trebles before the quarter ended with Rockets trailing 60-75.
Then they continued their dominance with another eight quick points to take the game away from a somewhat tired Rockets.
But this Rocket team has style and tenacity and fought right to the buzzer as the four Academy students played together for the last couple of minutes giving them very useful court time against the best team in the league for the last three seasons, fighting with scores from Isaac Round and Live Kivuvu to see Rockets finish 77-91.
