READING Rockets secured their second consecutive NBL Division One victory with a dramatic 95-94 home win against Hemel Storm – despite surrendering a 13-point advantage with little more than two minutes to go.

In a topsy-turvy opening quarter, the hosts raced into an 11-4 lead, only for Storm to score 10 unanswered points before Sydney Donaldson and Scotty Hendricks ignited Rockets again to put them 30-24 up at the first break.

Storm hit the first six points of the second quarter to bring the teams level before an Ali Sbai tip-in edged Rockets ahead again.

A Joel Keeble put-back opened up a seven-point lead for Rockets but again the Storm arose to make it 46-46 at half time.

A 30-25 third period in Rockets favour was earned with some glorious team play, orchestrated by Hendricks as he dished assists to Sbai and Jonny Foulds to hit trebles, while Tim Gill – who had spent much time on the bench before the interval due to being in personal foul trouble – showed his value.

Rockets looked set for victory when they held a comfortable 94-81 advantage as the game entered its end game scenario.

However, a 12-1 by Storm set the cat among the pigeons, and but for a missed free-throw, they might have salvaged a draw.

As it was, Rockets held on by the smallest margin.

Top scorers for Rockets were Hendricks with 22 point and six steals, Donaldson with 21 and four, and Declan Soukup with 18 points.

Rockets completed a successful weekend by reaching the fourth round of the National Cup following a 93-77 win at BC Medelynas on Sunday.

Soukup starred with 27 points, while Gill added 17 and Ed Potter 15.

Reading Rockets do not have a game this weekend, returning to league action against Worthing Thunder at Bohunt School on Saturday, October 28 (5pm).