Reading Rockets

BBL team
color1 = Red
color2 = Black
name = Reading Rockets

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imagesize = 120px
sponsor = None
league = EBL Division 1
established = 1997
history = Reading Rockets
1997-present"'
arena = Rivermeade Leisure Complex
location = Reading, Berkshire
coach = flagicon|UK [http://m.gmgrd.co.uk/sbres/317.$plit/C_67_article_2023013_body_articleblock_4_bodyimage.jpg?04%2F03%2F2008%2016%3A40%3A16%3A378 David Titmus]
ownership = Gary Johnson
colours = Black, Red and White Red, Black and White,
website = [http://www.readingrocketsbasketball.com/ readingrocketsbasketball.com]
h_body = 000000
h_pattern_b = _thinredsides
h_shorts = 000000
h_pattern_s =
a_body = ff0000
a_pattern_b = _thinwhitesides
a_shorts = ff0000
a_pattern_s = _whitesides

The Reading Rockets are a basketball club based in Reading, Berkshire that currently play in the English Basketball League. The Rockets were formed in 1997 by the current owner Gary Johnson and played in Division 3 of the then National Basketball League. Won promotion at the first attempt, and in the reorganisation of 2000 the National Basketball League replaced Division 1 with the eight-team NBL Conference as the second-tier after the BBL. Subsequently Division 2 became Division 1 where the Rockets found themselves. They were there for just one season, finishing second, and beating Oxford in the Championship Final, thus winning promotion to the NBL Conference after a mere four years in the league. A creditable seventh place finish in the NBL Conference during the 2001/2002 season showed that they were not just there to make up the numbers. In the following season, the Rockets continued their rise, finishing in third place within the NBL Conference. In 2003, the National Basketball League was rebranded as the English Basketball League, and once again was restructured with a new format, Rockets finished in second place in the new EBL Division 1. Finished third the following season and have been League runners-up to Worthing Thunder in both the 2005/06 & 2006/07 seasons. Whlist in 2008 they came close to winning the League title, beating Manchester in the final game of the season, to draw level at the top, but losing out to on points difference in the head-to-head.

Now firmly established within the EBL Division 1 the Rockets won the National Cup in 2004/05, reached EBL Championship Final in 2005, were National Cup Finalists in 2006. In 2007 the Rockets won the Final of the National Trophy, and retained the title in 2008.

Roster

Management and coaching staff

2007/2008 Season

* August & September – Rockets lose opening match against San Jose State University (64-74). The Rockets then start a winning run by beating Frejeres (France) 82-95 and Cherbourg (France) 73-82. The follow this up with a win against Team "USA" select (102-84).

* October – Great start to the season with Rockets building an unbeaten record in both National Cup and Trophey with wins against: West Herts Warriors (59 – 64). Derby Trailblazers – Rockets score their highest points victory ever in a 126- 67 win. Coventry Crusaders (100-56). Manchester Magic (97 – 90). Northampton Neptunes (126-73). Bristol Academy Flyers (88-73). This record gave the Rockets top spot in their group and a guaranteed home draw in the semi-finals of the National Trophy for which they are the holders. Rockets announce that Clint Deas has left the club due to personal circumstances.

* November – Rockets win their opening Division One (Men) match v Bristol Academy Flyers (91-70). But lost their second Division One match to Manchester Magic (98 – 91). In the National Cup Rockets progress to the semi-finals beating Mansfield Giants (56 – 104), Westminster Warriors (88-58). In a month where rockets are hit with injuries to both Rich Wellings and Andy Harper, coach Titmuss drafted in Ashley Parsons and Jason Sayers from Rockets second team, for the match against Mansfield Giants. During the month Rockets announce the signings of American Bryan Taylor and Joe Perera from West Herts Warriors, who makes his debut against Manchester Magic.

* December – Bryan Taylor makes his debut in the win (103-69) against Sheffield Arrows Danny Carter tops scorer for the rockets while Jason Sayers gets some court time, on his home debut, late in the match. Matt Johnson named Assistant Coach to the coaching squad for England’s Under 16 Men. Rockets release Steve Vear and Bryan Taylor.

* January - Reading Rockets open the second half of the season with a win against Coventry Crusaders (93-76). Rockets gave a debut to 6ft 10in forward Tom Sadler in the match against Derby Trailblazers, which Rockets win (56-76). Tin Tin top scorer in both matches - 25 against Coventry Crusaders and 24 against Derby Trailblazers. Rockets suffer their second league defeat of the season to Worthing (71-76). Rockets put the Worthing defeat behind then and beat West Anglia Fury (41-96) Top scorers for Rockets Danny Carter 30, Tintin Watts 22, Tom Sadler & Adam Thoseby 10 each.

* February - Rockets start the month on winning ways. Beating Bristol Academy Flyers (62-105). Tintin Watts top scorer with 36 points, Danny Carter with 21 and both Andy Harper and Tom Sadler on 15 points. Rockets progress to final of the Men's National Trophy after beating Sheffield Arrows (103 - 88). Rocket keep their challenge for the league by securing wins against London Leopards (77-55) and Coventry Crusaders (62-76) D Watts 24 top scorer against London Leopards with 24 point whilst R Wellings is top scorer against Coventry Crusaders with 21 points. Rockets finish the both unbeaten with a second win against Sheffield Arrows (69 - 87). Rich Wellings is the top scorer again with 24 whilst Dan McKay and Tin Tin score 16 each

* March - Rockets are back-to-back [http://m.gmgrd.co.uk/sbres/364.$plit/C_67_article_2023013_body_articleblock_1_bodyimage.jpg?04%2F03%2F2008%2016%3A40%3A16%3A378 National Trophy winners] beating Worthing Thunder in the final in Manchester (84-68). In a repeat of last years encounter the top scorers for Rockets were Andy Harper 29, Tintin Watts 20, Dan McKay 10, Rich Wellings 9 and Tom Sadler 8. [http://m.gmgrd.co.uk/sbres/422.$plit/C_67_article_2023013_body_articleblock_6_bodyimage.jpg?04%2F03%2F2008%2016%3A40%3A16%3A378 Andy also secured the MVP award] with 29 Points, 3 Rebounds, 2 Steals and 1 Assist. Rockets extened their unbeaten run to 9 games (6 travelling), plus keeping the race for the league championship alive, by defeating Worthing Thunder. With a magnificent team performance, the Rockets inflicted a second consecutive defeat on Thunder and are now posed to challenge Manchester Magic to secure their first National League Championship. With Danny C sitting out with the travelling supporters it was Rich who lead the score sheet with 31 points, Tintin, 19 points & 12 rebounds, Dan Mckay 13 points. Rockets score a comfortable victory against West Anglia Fury at Rivermead (109 - 52) Top scorers are Jason Sayers (22), Andy Harper (19) and Adam Thoseby (15) as the Coach Titmus gives the less experienced team members much of the court time. Rockets win their final match of the season but were not able to win by the seven point margin required to give them the illusive League Championship title.

* April - Rockets cruise in to the play-off semi-finals after beating Sheffield Arrows (97 - 56). Adam Kelly make his last ever home appearance for Rockets. Danny Carter also enjoyed his last home game before a stint in an American college. Top scorers for Rockets were David 'Tintin' Watts 24, Danny Carter 19 and Andy Harper 17. Rockets were edged out by Manchester Magic who won the Play off Championship Final at the English Institute of Sport, Sheffield. Following the game Titmuss presented Adam Kelly with the match ball as a mark of respect and gratitude for his contribution to the club. Assistant coach Matt Johnson was full of praise for the departing captain: “Adam epitomises everything about the Rockets ethos. He is a dedicated individual who has shown an unbelievable amount of commitment over the last 10 years. This season has been one of his best and he will be impossible to replace”.

Dave Titmuss reflecting on the season. "Everyone at our club is delighted with our season," said the veteran coach who will be part of the Great Britain women’s programe during the summer. If you had said before Christmas that we would win the National Trophy, finish second in the league with the same win/loss record as the champions, and make it to the playoff championship final, I think we would have bitten your hand off given our personnel changes, injuries and having only one import! I am most pleased about the fact that we have given an opportunity to young players like Dan McKay, Dan Carter and Simon Kearney to play on average 28-plus minutes per game and for them have to perform at the top of Division One. Our junior programme under Matt Johnson has really produced some good kids and we had six of them on our senior roster this year. It is a great testament to his work that two different youngsters from the same club has won the England Basketball Junior Player Award in consecutive years Danny Carter last year and Dan McKay this season. I think even our severest critic would concede that we've got the maximum out of our talent this year. I'm sure there are five or six other teams with arguably stronger rosters that would have liked to have been competing in the playoff final, and in the end we lost to a very deep, experienced, talented and well-coached team that just wore us out."

quad changes during 2007/08 season

External links

* [http://www.readingrockets.co.uk/ Official Rockets website]
* [http://www.getreading.co.uk/sport/basketball/ Local newspaper information on the Rockets]
* [http://www.pawprint75.co.uk/ Pawprint]
* [http://www.englandbasketball.com England Baskeball website]