READING Rockets (8-3) will be hoping to keep their impressive run going this weekend when they welcome Hemel Storm (4-9) to the Rivermead Leisure Complex on Saturday evening (6pm tip-off).

Rockets recorded win number seven on the spin with an impressive 105-92 victory over reigning NBL Division One champions Manchester Magic (10-3) last Saturday. Chris Hooper scored 24 points and took down a Rockets record 22 rebounds and six assists as the team kept hot on the heels of the leagues top three and become the most in-form team in the division.

Despite an 85-74 defeat to Bristol Flyers in the BBL Trophy in which the Berkshire outfit led by as many as 14 points in the first half, the Reading team remain on an impressive run and will go up against a team they have beaten twice in their previous encounters in the National Cup fourth round (84-67) and in the league at Sportspace (98-79) back in October.

Rockets head coach Manuel Peña Garcés was delighted to see his team secure an impressive win over Manchester Magic, but felt his team had a real chance of grabbing victory against BBL opposition on Sunday.

He said: “I was really pleased with Saturday’s performance against Manchester – this was a big one for us and keeps our run going and keeps the pressure on at the top of the league.

“Although we gave up 92 points and we feel we could have done a better job defensively, to win against the quality of opposition that Manchester is was a really good thing for our team.

“We carried that momentum forward on Sunday and showed some great basketball in the first half proving once again we can be competitive at that level, but we were thin on the ground in terms of personnel and didn’t quite have enough in the final quarter.

“Nevertheless, I am proud of my team and I think this keeps us in a great position for the next part of the league campaign.”

He continued: “Saturday’s game against Hemel will be a difficult one for us because it will be the third time playing them and we will need to find another way to beat a talented side and an opposition that doesn’t reflect their league place in the table.

“They have some quality on their roster and have caused us problems in recent seasons, but we are at home back at Rivermead, and we are on a great run so despite some injuries and absences we will fight hard to keep that run going and keep in touch with Northumbria, Derby, and Manchester.”

Rockets go into Saturday’s game with the news that point guard Elvisi Dusha has left the Berkshire club. The 22-year-old joined the Reading team in November but has joined BBL Championship outfit Plymouth Raiders for the remainder of the 2016-2017 campaign.

Rockets will also be without the services of English shooting guard Joel Keeble. The 22-year-old sustained an injury to his wrist during Saturday’s win against Manchester and will undergo further assessment before a final decision is made on the length of time he faces on the sidelines.