London Leopards v’s Reading Rockets
20th December 2008Sunday December 21 – Tip-off 4.00pm, Brentwood Centre
The Brentwood Centre is the scene for the final Division One game of 2008 when Leopards host the Rockets in what will be the third meeting between the teams in five weeks.
The two sides go into the weekend with the only remaining perfect league records in the top flight – although Leopards are still to complete their suspended game against Bristol Academy Flyers in which they trail by six going into the final 24 seconds.
Both of this season’s games have been won by the Rockets. A strong display at Loddon Valley saw Reading win all four periods on the way to a 78-53 victory in the National Trophy group stage. David Watts (22) and Walid Mumuni (17) led the Rockets, while Hrvoje Pervan (21) and Gareth Laws (10) were the only two Leopards in double figures.
The game at Wodson Park (Leopards’ other home venue) proved to be a complete contrast as Rocket edged home to a narrow 75-72 victory.
The Big Cats had trailed by 18 going into the final period, but despite losing star forward Pervan with a broken hand and seeing coach Jon Burnell ejected, they managed to stage a late comeback almost taking the win.
Leopards were trailing by 16 when Burnell left the game, but his ejection finally galvanised the hosts as they outscored Rockets 21-8 during the final eight minutes. However two needless turnovers in the final seconds proved key as they fell at the quarter-final stage for the second successive season.
Watts again proved to be a thorn in the Big Cats’ side with 20 points, but it was Leopards’ Carl Latham-Henry who led all scorers with 26 points following his comeback from the neck injury which saw the Bristol game suspended.
Leopards will still be without Pervan, though the Croatian is expected to return after Christmas, and fellow forward Robert Gilchrist is also doubtful with a knee injury. One member of their team who will return, however, is coach Jon Burnell who is due to miss Saturday’s trip to Derby while serving a one game suspension for his ejection in the National Cup.
Rockets won both games between the sides last season, producing a dominant performance in a 77-55 home victory before closing out the game strongly at Wodson Park, winning 93-81.
The game will give the Brentwood Centre crowd the first chance to see new shooting guard Carl McNally in action. The 22-year-old New York born player joined Leopards from BBL side Milton Keynes Lions, and made an immediate impact with 16 points in their 89-69 victory at Cardiff Celts before pouring in 27 in Saturday’s 89-84 win against Sheffield Arrows.