Georgina Lennon :: Rocks V Newcastle 10 Oct...

The SAMG Verve Scottish Rocks won the battle but lost the war in one of the most highly anticipated games of the season so far against arch rivals, the Northern Rock, Newcastle Eagles on Wednesday night.

It was a game with plenty of drama, which saw double overtime, and double Rocks injury, with Bilal being taken out with a delicate injury and Julius Joseph with a bloody nose.

Scottish Rocks got the first points of game courtesy of Maurice Hampton, with Newcastle quickly returning fire, but by the end of the first quarter the Rocks were leading 22-19 points.

The second quarter opened with, point guard, Rob Yanders and player/coach Sterling Davis on the bench with Gareth Murray and new signing Bilal Clarence taking to the court in place.

A three-pointer from Julius Joseph followed by a two-pointer by Moritz Wholers and another courtesy of Yanders on his return to the game, put the Rocks out in front.

However this was short lived as Eagles, Richard Midgely and three-pointer from Olu Babaloa gave the visiting side the lead.

But a quick time-out by the Rocks coach had them step-up to the basket and the two teams were tied 48-48 as they headed into the dressing room.

The third quarter seen the two sides trade baskets, until a succession of baskets took the Eagles back to the front, leading 58-65.

The quarter ended with Bilal being subbed on through delicate injury and the Rocks bringing the scoring back to 72-76.

There was more drama in the fourth as Julius Joseph was knocked to the floor in the first minute and had to be taken off with a bloody nose.

As the game continued, Maurice Hampton was awarded three free throws following a foul and managed to put all in the basket, taking the Rocks back out in-front.

However, a couple of three-point shots from the opposite side saw the Eagles turn the tables on the Rocks and lead seven points.

It was then a battle of the baskets ending with a three-pointer from Maurice Hampton to tie the game 95-95 and put the game into extra time.

Both teams meant business as they traded baskets and with six seconds to go Julius Joseph got two free throws to lead, only to be trumped by Hyatt’s three-pointer which tied the game again.

The second extra time got underway and again saw the Rocks take the lead, however succession of seven-points by Richard Midgely proved just too much for the home-side as they endured a 110-17 defeat.