Thunder washed away in last quarter of Trophy Final

The holders kept it when they turned a two-point advantage after three quarters into a 16-point flushaway in the fourth at the Amaechi Basketball Centre.

Disconsolate assistant coach Rob Newson said: "We were outworked and outplayed. They were together and we were not."

Rockets, unlike title rivals Manchester Magic, were not thought to be a deadly threat to Thunder but have evidently made significant progress and improvement to have pulled off a win of this margin.

Their victory now casts a psychological challenge over the last weeks of the EBL season in which Thunder seek a title three-peat. Worthing return to the Amaechi this Saturday, then later in March, if they defeat Manchester must then beat Reading at home in the penultimate game.

Quarter scores: 25-16 37-34 (HT 62-50) 59-57 84-68.

Reading: Harper 29pts (MVP 3rebounds, 2 steals 1 assists), Watts 20, McKay 10.

Thunder: Scott 21, Mooney 20, Woodfork 10.

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