GIANTS LOSE AS GLASGOW ROCKS ON!

MANCHESTER GIANTS  82   -  92  GLASGOW ROCKS 

The Manchester Giants slumped to a 3rd successive defeat as the Visiting Glasgow Rocks side beat the Manchester side for 3rd time in a row this season. It was their first home league defeat in 3 home games, As the last team to beat the Giants on their home court was that of the Rocks back on November 30th.

   

The game tipped off with both sides ready to go, The early stages was a very level contest as neither team was giving an inch. Both teams were tied at 5-5 before Glasgow slightly pulled ahead of the Giants. However the Home side went points crazy, as they went on a 9-2 run with 3 pointers flying in and Nick George who was making his debut for his hometown club, scored a lovely basket with his first points to announce himself to the crowd. Glasgow were literally "rocked" , As they turned it over a couple of times and way too easily, Which was pounced on by the Giants & made them pay everytime.

But we have seen this happen many many times at Wright Robby this season, Giants come out hard and then the opposition come back and take over after the first Timeout..Would we see a different story??

Well the Rocks came out and went on a run themselves of 9-2 as it was now the Giants turn to respond. But a lot of handling errors on both sides came into effect as well as some good rebounding by Manchester on both offence and defence helped them out, As the quarter ended it was the Giants shading it 24-21.

END of 1st QTR:  GIANTS   24  -  21   ROCKS

2nd quarter the Giants got out to a 31-25 lead which didn`t last very long, as Glasgow came back on a 9-0 run blowing the Giants out of the water as they were warming up their 3-pointers for later on. The Giants weren`t helping themselves either as they were giving the Rocks easy plays and free throws too. 

Glasgow looked to be in control as Manchester were struggling a bit, But then in the last minute the Giants put a run together ,adding some baskets together, namely in David Watts and David Aliu as their points helped gain a lead of 2 to go into the Halftime break.

But you sensed it was only a matter of time before Glasgow got going as the hosts seemed to be on borrowed as the visitors were warming up and growing in confidence. 

HALF TIME:  Giants  48   -  46   Rocks

The 3rd quarter was much like the rest of the game, when one team was pulling away the other side would peg them back a bit & take over the game. This would be the norm for the majority of the game.  

Player coach of the Rocks Sterling Davis was hitting 3 pointers all over and kept his side score ticking. Callum Jones hit a 3 of his own to put his side up by a couple then a George run ended up with a possible 3 point play as he netted the 2 points and drew the foul.

Rocks went up the other end and drew a foul and the Officials then penalized the Giants.  With head coach Jeff Jones given a Technical and so the Rocks went to the line with Harrison making 4 of 5 Free throws to put the Rocks from 58 - 56 down to 58 - 61 up. 

As the home side got frustrated by some dubious officiating calls against them it has to be said.This also  

pic: Jack Hinds

led to Jones have some angry words with the officials over things they were calling against him but that he had done to him but were missed, so had to be told by his team mates to leave it and concentrate on the game.

Glasgow then hit 8 points unanswered as the home side was unraveling as the Scottish side were pulling away. David Aliu then shot a 3 pointer to bring the score closer as the Quarter finished.

END OF 3RD QTR: GIANTS  63   -   67  ROCKS

4th quarter, Giants tried their best to keep the score within reach, As 3 pointers from Watts & Bailey were launching them from long range to make it 69-71 Glasgow. The Rocks were rolling as they hit 5 points in a row to bring the score to 73-78 with 5 mins to go for a tense finale.

Glasgow took a timeout and after it finally killed the game off.
As the Scottish outfit went on 12-0 with 3 pointers, As Manchester backed off to much after they pushed them to the outside and the shots were easily drained by the Scottish team. 

Giants then brought it back to under 10 points the the deficit , Before Gareth Murray fell the Giants as his 3 point shooting regained the double figure lead.With the Rocks then playing it out and inflicted another loss on the home side. And with the 3rd placed Surrey Heat upcoming the next, the few fixtures aren`t that kind to the Giants.

FINAL SCORE:  MANCHESTER GIANTS  82    -   92   GLASGOW ROCKS 

GIANTS:  BAILEY 16, WATTS 14, ALIU 13,GEORGE 12, JAMES JONES 9, GILL 9, EAVES 5 CALLUM JONES 4

ROCKS: DAVIS 22, ROBINSON 20, MURRAY 17, HARRISON 14, FANTAZIA 10, RINGGOLD 9