READING Rockets missed out on play-off Championship glory as Manchester Magic edged a titanic final 72-65 at Belle Vue on Sunday.

Captain Danny Carter got Rockets off to a solid start with some good defence and then a drive-and-score followed by a penalty score.

Point guard Tony Robinson then made the first of his seven assists to his American colleague D’Montre Edwards as the pair worked well to score 45 of Rockets’ points between them.

Interceptions and steals were the order of the day with outrageous slam dunks and one gigantic block by the high flying Edwards to bring the whole arena to its feet in awe.

A 19-17 lead by Rockets reflected the edge they had in the first quarter and despite Magic being first to find the basket in the second period it was some great team passing and play by Rockets that encouraged their supporters the final might be going their way.

Robinson hit a pair of trebles and he and Edwards were the main threats as Carter was rested following his second and third personal fouls.

A mesmerising run, including threading himself between Magic players at speed, seemed impossible but Edwards brought the Rockets’ supporters to their feet with a wonderful score.

A Robinson tip-in seemed to be edging Rockets to the changing room with the same two-point advantage after Joel Keeble stopped a certain Magic score, but Manchester found the basket and the scores were tied 41-41 at the interval.

Robinson displayed his superb vision with a steal, drive and then a blind assist to Wayne Yeboah to score before Magic’s ‘go to player’ and Basketball England’s Player of the Year, Ellis Cooper, repeatedly dented Rockets’ hopes as he finished with 24 points and 13 rebounds.

The period ended with Reading one down as Magic had the last possession and hit only their second treble to lead 56-52 going into the final quarter.

That treble proved key as Magic scored first to lead by six, but a Robinson pull up jump shot and a David Ajumobi steal and assist to Edwards raised the noise in the arena.

When more great team play saw Nicholls finish the move, the game was tied 58-58 within three minutes of the re-start.

Some doubtful calls against Rockets – including the fifth personal foul on Carter – irked their supporters, but the coaching team under Manuel Pena Garces soldiered on trying to make up for the 8-0 Magic run.

The magnificent Robinson stroked his third personal treble to cut the deficit, but that was as close as it got for a truly disappointed Rockets team who had fought courageously and left everything they had on the court.

Top scorers for Rockets were Robinson with 23 points, nine rebounds and seven assists; Edwards with 22 points, six rebounds and three assists, and Yeboah scoring eight points and six rebounds.

Despite defeat, this was a great season for Rockets who had been the finalists in the National Trophy and the Play-off Final, as well as finishing third in the top league in English basketball.

l CAT Lutz scored 29 points but Reading Rockets Ladies were beaten 68-59 by Southward Pride in their final.

Lutz also recorded nine

rebounds and was named Player of the Year after the final, while Maile Delow contributed nine points and seven rebounds and Alex Storey two points and six rebounds.