MATCH REPORT: Rocks roar to victory in Newcastle

TICKETS: It’s the return of competitive basketball at the Emirates arena on September 26th when the Sheffield Sharks visit in BBL Cup action. For tickets CLICK HERE!

Match Report by Alan Caldwell, images by Ross Wardrop

An enthralling encounter at the Vertu Motors Arena between the Glen Luss Glasgow Rocks and the Newcastle Eagles in the BBL Cup, which saw the Rocks come away with an impressive win, with standout performances from the Rocks new American stars, Jordan Johnson and Elijah Minnie.

@bojacdonmi13 sells a big fake to cap an 8-0 burst for @GlasgowRocks and break a tie.

: https://t.co/5Z3hL2L9e2
: https://t.co/6EG1CKG5g0#BritishBasketball pic.twitter.com/lfOzfi7Axm

— British Basketball League (@BBLofficial) September 24, 2021

It was the Rocks who started off the scoring in this game as Ali Fraser, returning from his heroics with the Leicester Riders, knocked down the first shot of the season in the BBL from just inside the free throw line. Both teams went back and forth early on in the first quarter, with Johnson weaving his way through the defence with some nice handles before finishing at the rim with a layup whilst also getting fouled in the process. The quick start to the game for the Rocks continued when Jordan Harris made back-to-back driving layups giving him a quick four points in the game, putting the Rocks up 11-8 midway through the first quarter.

Again it was Johnson who continued to be aggressive for the Rocks, playing the point guard role to perfection, he hit a three pointer followed up by two made free throws after getting fouled going up for a layup. This aggressiveness seemed to rub off on his other teammates as Hillsman grabbed an offensive rebound and finished at the rim whilst getting fouled and converting the free throw for the three point play. Which he then followed up with hitting a corner three, giving him six straight points in the game. After the first first quarter it was the Rocks who led the game up 23-18.

Nice ball movement opens the season for @GlasgowRocks and the returning @Bigali15.

: https://t.co/5Z3hL32KCC
: https://t.co/6EG1CKXGEA#BritishBasketball pic.twitter.com/aCULuI1FLc

— British Basketball League (@BBLofficial) September 24, 2021

Going into the second quarter it was Boban Jacdonmi who started the scoring for the Rocks in this quarter, despite this, it was Newcastle who started the quarter better as they outscored the Rocks 7-2 in the first three minutes. However, it was  Fraser Malcom who hit a corner three, followed up by another three from Elijah Minnie, regaining the lead for the Rocks which was just added to after Boban Jacdonmi scored another two points giving the Rocks their biggest lead of the night going up eight points midway through the second quarter.

The scoring slowed down for both teams going into the interval however, the Rocks managed to keep their lead in the game despite a comeback from the Eagles in the final five minutes of the quarter. Baskets from Johnson and Fraser held off the late Newcastle run and kept the lead for the Rocks who went into halftime up 39-36.

Going into the second half, it was Newcastle who finished off the first better and continued on with that run as they scored the first two points of the half. Despite this the Rocks battled back as three from Hillsman, a jumper from Ali Fraser, a floater from Johnson and an emphatic dunk from Harris capped off Glasgow’s 9-0 run regaining the lead.

@JordanHarr1s with the steal and dunk to cap a 9-0 burst for @GlasgowRocks.

: https://t.co/5Z3hL2L9e2
: https://t.co/6EG1CKG5g0#BritishBasketball pic.twitter.com/79efMALt2I

— British Basketball League (@BBLofficial) September 24, 2021

The Rocks excellent play continued as jump shots from Harris and Johnson put the Rocks up by 12, giving them their largest lead of the game. Going into the fourth quarter the Rocks stretched their lead out even more to as many as 14 points, with Jordan Johnson continuing with his impressive performance. Going into the fourth quarter the Rocks lead 64-51.

To start off the fourth quarter, the Rocks looking to see out the win in this contest, it was Jacdonmi who continued his impressive scoring and rebounding off the bench, which was followed up by more bench scoring from the Rocks as Jonny Bunyan knocked down back-to-back threes, putting the Rocks up by 19.

It's a big lead for @GlasgowRocks on a @Tugg_Speedman 3⃣

: https://t.co/5Z3hL2L9e2
: https://t.co/6EG1CKG5g0#BritishBasketball pic.twitter.com/mqAkyXLKjW

— British Basketball League (@BBLofficial) September 24, 2021

Despite this, it was the Eagles who finished off the game in better fashion with the Rocks taking their foot off the gas, the Eagles out scored the Rocks 7-2 in the final five minutes of the game, however, the Rocks win the contest, beating the Eagles 82-72.

The MVP of this game was clearly point guard, Jordan Johnson, who finished the game with 22 points, 8 rebounds and 7 assists, as the Rocks get ready to take on the Sheffield Sharks on Sunday for more BBL Cup action, for a 4:30pm tip-off at the Emirates Arena.

It’s the return of competitive basketball at the Emirates arena on September 26th when the Sheffield Sharks visit in BBL Cup action. For tickets CLICK HERE!

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