READING Rockets put in a brave performance as they were knocked out of the BBL Trophy 82-72 by Championship side Surrey Scorchers at Rivermead Leisure Complex last night.


The hosts opened the scoring when David Ajumobi scored, though these were to be his only points of the game. 


As head coach Manuel Pena Garces introduced changes to see what effect the sickness bug had taken on his team, a determination emanated from the under-dogs as captain Danny Carter made a pull up jump shot and Wayne Yeboah scored for Rockets to tie the first quarter 14-14.


Scorchers scored first in the second period but Rockets were in the ascendency as Ben Allison hit five personal points and Rockets went on a 9-2 run to lead 23-19. 


However, a Surrey time-out and a 9-0 run saw the visitors edge ahead by five. 


Rockets dug deep as Allison gave D’Montre Edwards a treble opportunity which he duly sank, and Carter made a three-point play as he was fouled in scoring.


Allison gave another assist for Fraser Glass to score before the former scored himself with a dunk to draw Rockets within two points at 32-34. 


The effervescent Jordan Nicholls was fouled on two consecutive occasions as he drove to score and converted all four shots from the penalty line to draw Rockets level at 36-36 with just 16 seconds remaining before the interval. 


The Rockets supporters showed their vociferous appreciation of the team’s determination to compete and maybe spring a huge surprise against their fully professional opponents, but with just five seconds left Elvisi Dusha - who was a target for Rockets in the summer - scored, drew the foul and then had the audacity to steal the ball and throw up a hopeful shot form the half way line which banked in off the glass to give Scorchers an undeserved 42-36 advantage at the interval. 


A 25-16 third quarter for Scorchers began with a put-back slam dunk. Though Edwards was causing Scorchers much trouble and Carter fought tenaciously inside for points, Rockets knew they had to do something very special in the final stanza to take the victory. 


Allison stood tall to take charge but some Rockets' turnovers were punished by Scorchers who led 67-52 as their speed up court caused problems.


The visitors again opened the scoring in the final period and went on to open up a 20-point gap midway through the period at 76-56. 


However Rockets upped their efforts again as Edwards lead the offence with back-to-back trebles which disturbed the previously confident Scorchers who had been sitting on a comfortable lead. 


The noise inside Rivermead rose to a crescendo as Rockets' pressure defence caused Scorchers to turn the ball over and Rockets made hay. 


A 16-4 run into the final two minutes got all Rockets supporters excited as they took the fight to the BBL team. 


Scorchers Head Coach Creon Raftopoulos urged his side to stem the onslaught, slow the game down and keep Rockets at bay for the final minute.

Antonio Robinso finished a Rockets fast break with a dunk and Yeboah made a steal and scored but with Rockets deficit just eight points, Scorchers held on, made a tip in to move into the next round of the BBL Trophy winning 82-72.


Top scorers for Rockets were D’Montre Edwards with 22 points and seven rebounds; Danny Carter with 16 points and Antonio Robinson with eight points and six rebounds.


Rockets travel to Derby Trailblazers in the league on Saturday before returning to Rivermead on Sunday to play south coast rivals Worthing Thunder (5pm).