Staking a claim for a position in the 36ers roster, Erik Burdon lit up the Launch Pad for 36 points, as the Rockets ended Forestville's chance of a repeat Central ABL championship.

Michael Zorich's first triple double of the season was also a factor in a game in which North led from start to finish.

Tom Rowe, a regular starter since midway through the season, hit two threes in a first quarter charge, and Burdon ended it with the same. The Rockets produced a blistering 40 point quarter, almost double their tally of two weeks ago, and went into the first break up by 13. Three and a half minutes later, they had notched 50 points, and when Rychart ended a fast break with a layup 30 seconds later, a Forestville time out was the only option to dull the roar.

Brad Sullivan made an immediate impact. A dribble handoff to Brenton Campbell produced a three pointer and a drive and dish to Doug McDonald-Taylor produced a layup. Forestville had switched to a 2-3 zone and although it twice gave up open shots, it was enough to change the pace of the game and disrupt the Rockets' flow. Kane Oakley rejected a Tom Rowe layup, then 30 seconds of mayhem, which included four consecutive turnovers, ended in a layup for Brenton Campbell. Burdon hit a runner in the next play but another layup to Campbell and a three point play helped reduce the lead to 9 at half time.

Rychart exploded into the second half, scoring North's next 10 points. Despite this, Forestville stayed in touch. Oakley hit a three and spiked another shot at the defensive end. McDonald Taylor hit a jump hook to reduce the lead to 9, but a late foul allowed it to creep back into double figures going into the last break

Michael Zorich sparked a pivotal run at this time in the qualifying final and repated the performance tonight. After a Rychart steal, Ziggy fed Leif Burdon for a layup, then made a no look pass inside the key to Nick Hambour. Forestville was forced to use a timeout 90 seconds into the quarter and the 18 point margin appeared insurmountable.

Zorich kept the scoreboard moving with a hook layup on transition, more memorable for the way he narrowly avoided a Dougie clothesline. Forestville forced a turnover from a full court trap and Oakley punished the Rockets with a three. After a second turnover in 20 seconds, it was North's turn to call time.

Erik Burdon made a miraculous three point play after a hard foul, but Matt Sutton nullified it with a three after flaring from an upscreen. Oakley made a three point play, but Forestville were unable to get the margin below 10. A ridiculous shot fake from Burdon had defenders sailing perilously close to the Hillcrest ceiling, and when the league's best foul shooter was again fouled on a made layup, the Rockets looked home.

Sullivan, Campbell and Oakley all hit threes in the final minutes as Forestville battled desperately to stay in touch, but it was to no avail, as the Rockets iced the 116-106 victory from the foul line.

Burdon's prophetic 36 was his second highest tally of the year and his first quarter helped North to carve an unassailable lead. Zorich's triple double was for 14 points, 10 rebounds and 11 assists, his speed and vision in transition creating easy scoring opportunities all game. Dusty Rychart had 28 points and 13 rebounds and was instrumental in keeping Forestville in check in the third quarter.

Brenton Campbell had 28 points off the bench for Forestville and when he was on the court, the Eagles always looked a chance. Kane Oakley had 19 points and 17 rebounds and his three three pointers stretched North's defence. Matt Sutton's 18 points equalled his high score for the season.

Forestville might take solace that Kane Oakley this season went a long way towards filling the void left by Jason Dix, and the Eagles drop from 1^st to 3^rd might be more to do with the higher standard of the league than anything else.

North now has a shot at glory, but is in unfamiliar territory. When the Rockets last won a title, Justin Schueller was 2 years old, Nick Hambour was 1 and Michael Zorich and Erik Burdon, who entertained the crowd with a post-game high-five extravaganza worthy of Matt Garrison, were yet to grace the world with their presence.