READING Rockets (9-3) will be hoping an injury to leading scorer Chris Hooper is not too serious as the Rivermead club travel to third-placed Derby Trailblazers (10-3) at Noel Baker School on Saturday (7.15pm tip-off).

The Reading team preserved their winning NBL Division One streak as Spanish guard Juan Valerio hit a three-pointer with six seconds remaining against Hemel Storm (4-10) last weekend to make it eight wins in a row as the home team took a 100-97 victory after being ahead by as many as 20 during the game.

American point guard Craig Ponder’s 35-point haul and Danny Carter’s 25 points and eight rebounds led the way, but Hooper was limited to just eight minutes on court and was unable to play any part in the second half due to a back problem.

With shooting guard Joel Keeble still out with a wrist injury and the departure of Elvisi Dusha to Plymouth, the Reading club will be hoping the American’s back complaint is not too serious and he will be able to feature against Derby.

Rockets’ head coach Manuel Peña Garcés was a relieved man after the Hemel thriller and said: “Last Saturday’s win was a really tough one for us but I am so proud of my players and the way we kept fighting right to the end to gain an important victory and keep our run going.

“Losing Chris in the first half was a big blow and, what with our other injury problems, we asked players to play some heavy minutes. Our senior players took the load of this and our academy players also stepped up and contributed really well so for that I am happy.

“Having said that, it is important that we analyse what we are doing on defence as giving up 90+ points in consecutive games is something we need to address this week as well as get players back healthy to strengthen our squad.”

He continued: “This weekend’s game against Derby is a huge one for us. They are right above us in the league table and in the mix for the title and we know it is a challenge because of the way they play and the great fan base they have so we will have our work cut out for sure.

“But if we can get a bit more healthy and work on some specific things this week then I think we have a great chance against them and one we will be really trying to take at this important stage of the season.”