Heat continue great start to season, beat Rocks 84-78

BBL Championship
21st October
Surrey Heat 84 – 78 Glasgow Rocks

Starting Fives:
Surrey Heat: McLemore, C.Holmes, Cricelli, Joseph, F.Holmes
Glasgow Rocks: Davis, Achara, Robinson, Murray, Harrison

The Surrey Heat beat the visiting Glasgow Rocks 84-78 on Sunday, taking their record in the league to 5-1 and moving four points clear of the fourth placed Plymouth Raiders.

The Heat began the contest more aggressively than their opponent, driving the lane for all but one of their first period field goals. The Rocks, the league’s best three point shooting team coming into the game, kept it close from beyond the arc with three triples.

The second quarter was a repeat of the first for the home side, as they dominated in the paint, scoring 20 of their 27 points within 10 feet of the basket to extend their lead to 10 at the half, 43-33.

Despite being down by 14 during the third quarter, the visiting Rocks cut the lead to single digits heading into the final period, thanks to a hot run of form from three point range (4/6 in the quarter) including two from the second best three point shooter in the league, EJ Harrison.

The Rocks took their first and only lead of the game at 71-69 on a Wedemire score midway through the final period but a Frank Holmes score on the next possession tied the game for the Heat before the home side closed the door on the Rocks, eventually winning 84-78.

Game MVP:

Falling just one rebound shy of a double-double, Frank Holmes scored 20 points and grabbed nine rebounds in an important win for the Heat.

Next up:

UCP Marjon Plymouth Raiders vs Surrey Heat, Sunday 28th October, 16:00, Plymouth Pavilions

One Health Sheffield Sharks vs Glasgow Rocks, Friday 2nd November, 19:30 EIS Sheffield