Reading Rockets opened 2009 in the way they closed 2008 to extend their perfect start to the season to 18 games.

 

Trailblazers brought determination and experience to Rivermead and only lost the first two quarters by six each. Walid Mumuni and Terell Smith had scored most of Rockets' 34 points in this period, whilst David 'Tintin' Watts, recovering from flu, struggled to find his usual sweet shooting.

 

Rockets shot off to an 8-1 lead before Simon Spencer scored four personal points to get Derby into the game. Simon Kearney hit a long three which hung around the rim until Mumuni rose higher than anyone to tip the ball in and take his first quarter points tally to double figures. A pair of baskets from Spencer and Joe Montgomery helped Derby cut the gap to 16-10 early in the second quarter, but they were unable to build on the situation. Smith seemed able to score with ease and the American hit 10 of Reading’s next 12 points in the 12-4 run which took the home side to a 28-18 lead, three minutes before half time.

 

Another Derby time out was called, but this time it failed to have an impact. The Rockets closed the period with a 6-4 run, with Wiggins being left exasperated to see his side waste too much of their last possession pondering their options to such an extent that time simply ran out.

 

Derby shot out of the blocks at the start of the second quarter stealing Rockets ball and cutting the deficit to just 2 points at 14:16, but Rockets showed glimpses of their best with Smith scoring off the glass, Watts driving to the basket and Adam Thoseby finishing a traditional fast Rockets break. 

 

Rockets' rebounding was impressive as was their defensive play but they still struggled offensively. The last highlight before the interval was another display of excellent defence causing Rockets to steal the ball and hurtle down court at speed where Dan McKay executed a super pass to the fast approaching Mumuni to finish the move with a lay up and take Rockets to the changing rooms with a 34 – 22 lead.

 

With Rockets 34-22 up at half-time, Trailblazers briefly looked as if they might go on to make an impact. Stedroy Baker opened the scoring and two quick baskets from Montgomery interspersed by a single free-throw from Mumuni saw Derby cut the deficit to 34-28. Rocket’s coach Dave Titmuss called a time-out after just 43 seconds, and the move worked as Watts and Ryan Lohfink took charge for the hosts.

 

Watts’ three-pointer re-established a 12 point lead for the Rockets midway through the period and was the start of a 14-4 run which closed the quarter with Reading 56-37 ahead.

 

The final quarter was by far the best of the game as treys from Smith and Watts saw Rockets extend their lead while Trailblazers were held scoreless for a further three minutes late in the final period, as Reading piled in thirteen points without reply to lead 76-46. With two minutes left, the Rockets brought on a quartet of teenagers to join McKay in playing out the remainder of the game.

 

Coach Titmuss gave 18 year old Luke Rogers his first excursion onto the home court together with the Sayers brothers, Adam Thoseby and Dan McKay making up the court five, with McKay at 19 years of age being the eldest. Rockets finished the game with a buzzer beating shot by Thoseby from some great swift passing coupled to a Louis Sayers three.

 

Smith led Rockets with 25 and 14 rebounds, Mumuni added 23 points and eight boards, and Watts had 19 and 12. If there was a positive for Derby, it was probably the performance of Ben Middleton, who worked tirelessly at both ends of the court to gather a total of 12 rebounds, without which the margin of defeat could easily have been significantly larger. Montgomery led the visitors with 19 while Spencer was the only other Trailblazer in double figures with 16.

 

Coach Titmuss had mixed feelings about the game:

 

"The first and second quarters were as frustrating for us as any game this season; we just couldn't get to the free-throw line no matter what we did. We drove aggressively, we posted-up, we rebounded offensively to draw fouls on put-backs, but by half-time Derby had only one foul recorded against them in twenty minutes of play - and that was a non-shooting foul! I do like the spirited way Derby plays defence but I think most people will find that a surprising statistic.

 

"The work we've been doing in training on rebounding and also on taking care of the ball is beginning to bear fruit; we had a twenty-plus rebound edge and only eleven turnovers. 

 

"Everyone looked a bit rusty from the Christmas break so we're looking forward to getting back into training this week, and we're also hopeful that Rich Wellings will be able to play next weekend having recovered from a broken hand. He's been out for a long time so I don't expect him to play a major role, but it will be good to see our captain back on court."