BLAST FROM THE PAST: Guildford Heat 92-76 Reading Rockets

Guildford Heat 92-76 Reading Rockets
Thursday 26th October 2006
British Basketball League Trophy
Guildford Spectrum, The Parkway, Guildford, Surrey, GU1 1UP, England
Tip-Off: 7.00pm

SCORES - HEAT COME FIRST
1st quarter: 20-19
Half-time: 47-30
3rd quarter: 66-54
Final score: 92-76


TOP SCORERS:
GUILDFORD HEAT: Martin 24, Dux / McKnight 23, May 14
READING ROCKETS: Williams 25, Humphreys 15, Wellings / Cook / Watts 7


TOP REBOUNDERS:
GUILDFORD HEAT: Martin 12, Brown 10
READING ROCKETS: Williams 11, Humphreys / Cook 4


The Heat maintained their excellent BBL Trophy form despite the absence

of 2 of their starting five, seeing off local rivals the Readng Rockets

to stay top of their pool.


Brian Dux opened the scoring with 1 from 2 early free throws, bringing
Ryan Williams' first 3 pointer of the game in response on his way to 9
first quarter points. Mike Martin and Jon May found their range in
response, with Martin showing strong in the paint through the quarter
for the Heat on his way to 7 1st quarter points. The two leading
scorers ended the 1st quarter scoring for their respective sides, to go

into the break with the Heat edging ahead at 20-19.


The Heat came out strong at the start of the 2nd quarter, with Brian
Dux upping the defensive intensity and Mike Martin sparking a 15-4 run
with another strong inside move from underneath the ring. Brian Dux
nailed a 3, and Jon May finding range outside the arc twice to move the

Heat 35-23 in front. James Cook's free throw stopped the rot, only for
2 quick Chris Brown
close range buckets sparked a further 7-2 run for the Heat to take the
scores to 42-25 with 1.28 to play. A 5-0 burst for each team ended the
half with a 47-30 lead for the Heat. Brian Dux finishing the half with
a fantastic 3 point play with just over a second on the clock, then
blocking a long range Rockets attempt on the buzzer.


The Rockets emerged from the half time break the strongest with an 11-5

run. Ryan Williams adding 6 and Steve Humphreys adding 5 including a 3
pointer, and the Heat replying through Chad McKnight and a Mike Martin
triple. After a Heat timeout Brian Dux and Chad McKnight combined for
an 8-2 run, with Chad adding 6 on his way to 10 3rd quarter points.
Steve Humphreys bucket stopped the charge, taking him to 9 for the
quarter and Ryan Williams added another score for the Rockets pulling
them back to 60-47 behind with around 3 minutes left. Dan Wardope
nailed his first points of the night before the Rockets closed out the
quarter with a 7-4 burst, with Richard Wellings nailing a trey to end
the scoring with the Heat leading 66-54.


Adam Kelly's basket closed the gap to 66-56 before Mike Martin's free
throw and 3 pointer, followed by a Brian Dux score stretched the Heat
lead to 72-56. An 11-3 Heat run in the latter half of the quarter all
but sealed the game. Mike Martin and Chris Brown making strong moves in

the paint, and only David Watts' trey in reply gave the Heat an 87-68
lead with just over 2 minutes to play. The Rockets closed the game with

an 8-5 run. James Cook grabbing 2 late baskets after Chad McKnight's
triple and Jon May showing his confidence with a great drive to the
hoop ensuring the Heat ended the game 92-76 winners.