MATCH REPORT: Glasgow Rocks take advantage in Semi-Final Cup Tie
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The Glen Luss Glasgow Rocks looked for revenge against the Manchester Giants in the first leg of the semi-final of the BBL Cup at the Emirates Arena after a disappointing defeat on Friday night down in Manchester, which is exactly what the Rocks got as they took a commanding 10-point lead into Wednesdays the second leg.
Starting off the game, it was the Rocks who started in better scoring form as the home team with the Rocks outscoring the Giants 10-4 as Jordan Johnson got the Rocks first points of the night knocking down the first three of the game.
#ROCKSMNL : The Gaffer scoring from range!#Glasgow | #GoRocks | #RocksRumble pic.twitter.com/yRYkbTOzPG
— Glen Luss Glasgow Rocks (@GlasgowRocks) December 12, 2021
The Rocks remained in the lead for the rest of the first quarter as eight points from Ali Fraser and six from Jordan Harris going 3-3 from the field gave the Rocks good scoring in the opening quarter as they lead the Giants 25-19.
#ROCKSMNL : Coast to coast with the rejection and clean finish from Harris!#Glasgow | #GoRocks | #RocksRumble pic.twitter.com/KHiDVAasjS
— Glen Luss Glasgow Rocks (@GlasgowRocks) December 12, 2021
Looking to pick up where they left off in the first quarter, the Glenn Luss Glasgow Rocks continued their impressive start to the game as did Ali Fraser, scoring the Rocks first six points of the second quarter as the Rocks went on a 6-2 run giving them their biggest lead of the night going up by 10.
#ROCKSMNL : Jordan Harris breaking ankles!#Glasgow | #GoRocks | #RocksRumble pic.twitter.com/W8SBoGDi5p
— Glen Luss Glasgow Rocks (@GlasgowRocks) December 12, 2021
Despite this, determined not to let the Rocks get too far ahead in the scoreboard, the Giants battled back going on a 5-0 run of their own as the scoring for both teams at the start of the second quarter swung both ways.
The second quarter didn’t seem to go quite to plan for the Rocks as the Giants took their first lead of the night and doubled the Rocks points scored in the quarter 23-10 with four minutes left in the half as the Giants lead 42-35.
Going into the interval, the Rocks looked to cut into the Manchester lead as points from Johnson, Hillsman and a Jordan Harris three, improved the Rocks second quarter scoring as a late layup from Ali Fraser cut the Giants lead down to just one in the game however, they lead the Glen Luss Glasgow Rocks 49-48 at halftime.
At the start of the second half, it was the Giants who came out the gates faster as they went on an 8-4 run at the start of the third quarter. Despite this and wanting to regain their lead they had in the first quarter, as a Jordan Johnson knocked down his third three of the night and a tough finish inside from coach Murray cut the Giants lead back down to just three.
#ROCKSMNL : Rocks take the lead!#Glasgow | #GoRocks | #RocksRumble pic.twitter.com/5Kf0QFePv3
— Glen Luss Glasgow Rocks (@GlasgowRocks) December 12, 2021
Both teams continued to battle down the stretch as this game looked like it would go right to the wire as Johnson continued his good scoring in the game, making a layup to tie the game at 62 apiece which is the closest the Rocks had been on the scoreboard to the Giants since the first five minutes of the second quarter.
Tying the game up seemed to give the Rocks great momentum in the game as they went on a 15-5 run to end the third quarter, regaining the lead for the first time since the end of the first quarter as the Rocks outscored the Giants 29-21 in the third quarter taking a 77-70 lead going into the fourth quarter.
Heading into the final quarter, the Rocks were in pole position to take a commanding lead into the second leg of the semi-final down Manchester, as Jaycee Hillsman got the Rocks first points of the quarter at the free throw line, which was then followed up by five points from Johnson, knocking down his fourth three of the night as the Rocks lead 88-81 with six minutes left to play.
#ROCKSMNL : Ali REJECTION#Glasgow | #GoRocks | #RocksRumble pic.twitter.com/Z8jzyc6L24
— Glen Luss Glasgow Rocks (@GlasgowRocks) December 12, 2021
The Rocks managed to keep the Giants at bay for the rest of the fourth quarter as they outscored Manchester 25-22, winning the contest 102-92 with the second leg left to play.
MVP of the game was Rocks big-man, Ali Fraser as he finished with an impressive double-double, scoring 24 points, adding 11 rebounds. Next-up for the Rocks is the second leg of the semi-final on Wednesday night down Manchester for a 7pm tip-off where the Rocks will be looking to build on their 10-point advantage and get through to the final.
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