Rockets Cruise Past The Mariners In NPBA Action

Mon, Nov 28th 2011, 09:30 AM

A three-point attack in the third quarter, and David Taylor driving the ball through the lane, became the winning combination for the Phil's Food Service Rockets. The Rockets scored 15 points in the opening minutes of the third from behind the three point arc, pushing their half-time lead to 14. Taylor closed the quarter with four points from the free throw line, but their opponents, the Royal Bahamas Defense Force Mariners, still managed to stay in the game. The Mariners tried to maximize their many trips to the free throw line, but when the final whistle blew, the Rockets walked off with their second win of the season, 96-85.

The closest Taylor and crew allowed the Mariners to get in the second half, after their barrage of three point shots, was eight points. The foul trouble that the Rockets were in didn't stop their aggressive charge. Tamecko Moxey netted the first seven points in the third quarter for the Rockets. He and Mariners' Durchan Sands were going head-to-head, in terms of scoring, for their team. Sands' 10 points, in that frame, would be the offensive spark the Mariners needed, heading into the final quarter.

As the Rockets continued to take outside shots, the Mariners wiggled their way through the two-three defensive set-up of the Rockets hoping to draw fouls. When they got the Rockets' players to commit, the Mariners were unable to be successful from the free throw line.

"We just need to get together as a team, and play as a team," said Gregory McGregory, Mariners' Head Coach. "The big problem we are having right now is players not showing up to the game. We need all our players here so we can get back in sync. We had a little lay-off from government league, so it is just a matter of time, of us getting it back. We will be alright if we come together. There [are] no if, ands or buts about playing together.

"Another thing we need to work on is scoring from the free throw line. Free throw shooting has been a problem for us for a while. This is a new season, just something else we will have to work on as a team, but these are the little monkeys that we have to get off our backs."

The Mariners missed seven free shots, and were unable to convert on five consecutive turnovers by the Rockets. The team was slowly getting back on defense giving their opponents open looks to the basket. A better transition game is something McGregory said his team will need if they plan to improve on their 0-2 start. The Rockets, who are off to a 2-0 win/loss record on the season, were led by Taylor with 27 points. Rashad McKenzie put up 17 and Moxey had 10 points.

Moxey said: "We have some new faces so we will have to work them into the system, and make sure that they are familiar with the plays that we are running. Besides that, we will have to just work on defense. The fouls that we made today, I am not too worried about them. It should not be a problem for us as we move on. This is the beginning of the season, so that is just a part of the defense that we will have to work on. It looks a little out of place there, but we will get it together."

The top scorer for the Mariners was Durchan Clarke with 22 points. Chipping in with 20 points was Sands. Action in the New Providence Basketball Association (NPBA) will continue today with two games on the schedule. All games are being played at the C.I. Gibson Gymnasium.

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