READING ROCKETS eased through to the play-off quarter finals in a triumphant double header weekend.
Rockets exploded from the tip with a 13-3 run causing an early time out by the visitors. A Danny Carter assist to Sam Toluwase gave the forward a slam as Rockets moved to a 21-3 before a brace of trebles gave the Lions some heart though they finished the opening exchanges 23-10 adrift.
Then Lions took the second quarter 24-23 with Elijah Maynard hitting 19 of their 24 points as he lit up the response even though a Jaz Bains treble was quickly followed by a Bains assist to Reis Pinnock to also score a treble and see Rockets 29-11 ahead.
Some great team work saw Carter send an assist to Tyler Cartaino score and convert the extra free throw before he helped Meshack Lufile to an inside score seeing Rockets 34-14 ahead causing yet another Lions time-out just 3 minutes into the period.
Pinnock and Bains stroked trebles leaving the home team with a reduced advantage of 46-34 at the interval.
Cartaino hit 10 personal points as he drove determinedly on four occasions drawing fouls twice and finishing on another occasion and hitting a pair of free throws on the fourth.
Toluwase was enjoying himself with yet another slam dunk and Carter completed Rockets scoring with an inside move, score and extra point from the penalty stripe leaving Rockets comfortably ahead 73- 51.
Jaz Bains hit three trebles in the last quarter to become the games second top scorer with 20 points, thanks mainly to an assist from Carter and a pair of assists from Cartaino though Bains returned the favour for Cartaino to drain a treble.
Cartaino continued his display with awesome assist and steals as he gave Rockets big man Lufile a slam dunk.
The 30 point lead was the trigger for Head Coach Dan Pearson to release three of his academy boys onto court as Isaac Round stroked a treble.
Ashely Kitchen matched that moments later before Round finished Rockets scoring with a floater easing Rockets easing Rockets into the play-offs in a season plagued by serious and long injuries to the team.
Depending on the result of Rockets appeal against a two point deduction for a Covid violation, victory could give Rockets seventh place in the league and a likely away tie against Thames Valley Cavaliers the first weekend in April in the play-off quarter final.
