Rockets Fire in Final Term
MINECORP Rockets recovered from a fierce first-half onslaught from Ipswich to snatch the points over the Force in their round five match at Hegvold Stadium yesterday.
A combination of a slow start from the Rockets coupled with a dynamic start by the visitors meant the Rockets trailed 26-19 after the opening quarter of the men's QBL match.
With the early momentum, the Force stormed to a 51-37 half-time lead against the premiership favourites with an upset looking likely.
Ipswich however couldn't maintain the momentum in the second half with the Rockets running out 78-87 winners after assuming the lead for the first time with just eight minutes remaining on the clock.
If the Force was looking for any on-court positives it could take some satisfaction from the work done to limit Rockets attacking ace Brad Williamson's scoring from the three-point line.
Williamson has been in great form in recent weeks, taking the big shots at will. Yesterday he was pressured to score just one out of 10 attempts.
However, the Rockets are too good an outfit to have just one player capable of chipping in with three-point shots and both Mitch Philp and Peni Nasalo were successful at that range.
Philp, who finished with a game-high 29 points including four three-pointers, broke the deadlock by scoring two consecutive three-pointers early in the fourth quarter to help seal the win.
Rockets star Ryan McDade was the working force behind the fightback, snatching 12 of his side's defensive rebounds.
Ipswich was out-muscled, out-thought and out-pointed by the Rockets in the final quarter who registered their fifth consecutive win.
The reigning champions stood up and took control late in the game with the crowd cheering the side's determination and fight.
With the bye this weekend the Rockets will head into the early season break before returning to face a mighty Gold Coast Rollers on June 30.
QBL ROUND 5
Minecorp Rockets 87 (M Philp 29, R McDade 26, T Reed 12) def Ipswich Force 78 (S Gleeson 21, R Jefferies 13, B Allen 13, R Stolberg 11)
Northside 80 def Brisbane 72
Cairns 84 def Townsville 78
Mackay 77 def Ipswich 70
Bundaberg 78 def Maroochydore 69
South West Metro 74 def Bundaberg 97
Toowoomba 91 def Gold Coast Rollers 87
Gladstone BYE
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