MATCH REPORT: Sheffield edge our Rocks in final quarter
TICKETS: Our BBL cup campaign continues THIS FRIDAY when the Manchester Giants visit in BBL Cup action (7:30pm tip). For tickets CLICK HERE!
Match report by Alan Caldwell, Images by Chris Cox and Bethanie Reid
A back and forth game between the Glen Luss Glasgow Rocks and the Sheffield Sharks at the Emirates Arena, however, it is the Sharks who come away with the win despite impressive scoring again from Jordan Johnson who finished with a team high 24 points.
To start the game off for the Glen Luss Glasgow Rocks, it was the NBA G League winner and new point guard, Jordan Johnson who continued on his impressive performance last time out as he scored the first two points of the night for the Rocks.
The first quarter was a low scoring affair for both teams as they went back and forth on the scoreboard matching each other’s every move with the biggest lead in the quarter being four points. The first ended with the Rocks up 18-16, thanks to nine points and two assists already from Jordan Johnson.
Into the second quarter, again both teams where matching each other in the scoreboard as Ali Fraser scored the first four points of the quarter for the Rocks, before Johnson found Gareth Murray who knocked down the three pointer, giving the Rocks a narrow lead in the game.
The Rocks continued with their scoring streak in the second quarter as Johnson knocked down a three pointer, followed by a Boban Jacdonmi layup which gave the Rocks the biggest lead of the game so far, putting them up by six points.
One point game as Fraser gets the +1 for @GlasgowRocks! #BritishBasketball
https://t.co/jDdzdv2olM
https://t.co/nfy0vdnOnR pic.twitter.com/lMhPrOYxzc
— British Basketball League (@BBLofficial) September 26, 2021
However, again this contest looked to be a close encounter as the Sharks came back into the game going on a 12-3 scoring run which saw them regain the lead 36-33, before Jonny Bunyan hit his second three of the night tying the game up, but again, it was the Sharks who scored the final basket of the half putting them up 38-36 going into halftime.
To start the second half off, it was the Sharks who started off better, out scoring the Rocks 6-2 in the first two and a half minutes of the quarter before Jordan Johnson continued with his impressive scoring, hitting a tough fadeaway over his defender.
The third quarter was low scoring for both teams as they struggled to find their shot, however, a Gareth Murray three pointer brought the Sheffield lead down to just two. Both teams again went back and forth again on the scoreboard, before Jordan Harris made an acrobatic reverse layup to cut the lead down to just one. Despite this, it was the Sharks that outscored the Rocks, 18-17 in the quarter, giving them a 56-53 lead going into the final quarter.
To start the fourth quarter off it was Gareth Murray who hit a three pointer to tie the game up again as this one looked like it would go right down to the wire. Despite this, the Sharks came back into the game as Murray hit another three pointer from way down town, but baskets from Sheffield saw them open up a five point lead in the game.
Despite this the Rocks continued to fight as baskets from Johnson and Ali Fraser cut the lead back down to one, before the Sharks stretched their lead back out to the joint biggest lead of the game so far, going up by six.
Unfortunately for the Rocks, it would stay that way as the Sharks win the contest 79-69, with the Glen Luss Glasgow Rocks moving to 1-1 in the BBL Cup as they get ready for the next game against the Manchester Giants on October 1st for a 7:30pm tipoff at the Emirates Arena.
The post MATCH REPORT: Sheffield edge our Rocks in final quarter appeared first on Glasgow Rocks.