MATCH REPORT: Rocks fall short against League Champions, Leicester, despite impressive performance
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The Rocks fall short of the mark in the last home game of the season against the Leicester Riders at the Emirates Arena in a demoralising 101-86 loss.
Our Glen Luss Glasgow Rocks came into tonight’s game with four wins from their last five, a 115-105 loss against the Plymouth Patriots being the only stain on the record.
Tonight’s travelling opponents, the Leicester Riders, are top of the table with 46 points and only lost two games all season, they were on hot form in their last five with a perfect five-for-five, victories against the London Lions, Manchester Giants, Plymouth Patriots, Newcastle Eagles, and the Surrey Scorchers made the form up. Defeating these opponents by an average deficit of 19.6, the Riders were always going to be a tough opponent.
The last meeting between these two sides was on the 20th of February when the Rocks were off the mark by 29 points in a 105-76 loss at the Emirates Arena.
Quarter one was a good showing from both sides, the lead changed multiple times with the highest lead being seven for the Riders but five points from Vance Johnson closed the gap to two before the whistle blew for the end of the quarter.
#ROCKSMNL: Great play from the Rocks! pic.twitter.com/rCpXxavpAk
— Glen Luss Glasgow Rocks (@GlasgowRocks) April 19, 2022
Vance Johnson and Jordan Johnson were the scoring leaders across both sides in the first half, Vance Johnson with nine on 4-5 shooting and Jordan Johnson had his nine on a less impressive 3-7 but he knocked down two three pointers, showing that the Rocks can score from anywhere on the court.
#ROCKSMNL: Vance drains the three!#Glasgow | #GoRocks | #RocksRumble pic.twitter.com/HUnpipJmFA
— Glen Luss Glasgow Rocks (@GlasgowRocks) April 19, 2022
The Riders had the better start in the second period of the game getting off to a nine point lead by the 8:23 mark, dictating how this quarter would pan out to be.
#ROCKSMNL: ON HIS HEAD!#Glasgow | #GoRocks | #RocksRumble pic.twitter.com/qurHWVjuZB
— Glen Luss Glasgow Rocks (@GlasgowRocks) April 19, 2022
Rocks managed to get the lead to within five a few times but Leicester managed to cruise the ten minutes staying within seven to eleven points ahead.
Jordan Harris elevated his two points in the opening quarter to 11 by the time the half time whistle was blown, leading the Rocks in this scoring. Four of these points came via posters, rising the ladder to slam home two dunks.
#ROCKSMNL: Jordan Harris is taking no prisoners this evening.#Glasgow | #GoRocks | #RocksRumble pic.twitter.com/8OHI3XK8Z0
— Glen Luss Glasgow Rocks (@GlasgowRocks) April 19, 2022
Rocks shot better from the field in the first half, 18/34 (52%), consisting of 15/22 (68%) and 3/12 (25%) from downtown.
Whelan scored the most for the Riders in the opening half, 13 points was good enough to outscore Harris (11).
Harris also had three steals by halftime, an impressive performance on the defensive end of the floor.
The second half was a disappointing performance from our guys. In a chippy game that consisted of multiple technicals and a total of 31 free throws, the Riders shot better, played harder defence, rebounded better and controlled this game. In the third quarter, the Rocks fell behind as many as 22, and 27 by the time the fourth rolled about.
#ROCKSMNL: Rocks with the fast break finish!#Glasgow | #GoRocks | #RocksRumble pic.twitter.com/djvwan6GLz
— Glen Luss Glasgow Rocks (@GlasgowRocks) April 19, 2022
#ROCKSMNL: Boban with the jam!#Glasgow | #GoRocks | #RocksRumble pic.twitter.com/LCx8oAnSOT
— Glen Luss Glasgow Rocks (@GlasgowRocks) April 19, 2022
There was no momentum for the Rocks tonight, there was no out and out stretch where fans thought we could get back into the game, which is disappointing but justified when you’re going against the dominant league leaders.
Tonight’s MVP was also last games hero, Jordan Harris loaded his stat line with 19 points, two assists, four rebounds, three steals and multiple showtime dunks.
Shooting splits turned by the end of the fourth quarter, Riders shot more efficiently which was the killer for the Rocks tonight. 50% from the field, 62% from inside the arc and 30% from outside paled in comparison to Leicester’s 54%/64%/33%.
Congratulations to Leicester on tonight’s win, we hope we can pick up our form by the time of our next game, the last game of the season, against the Newcastle Eagles at the Vertu Motors Arena in the regular season’s closing act. We go into the playoffs shortly and hope to have you back our guys there!
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