Both the Rocks and the Lions will be looking to bounce back from heavy defeats to the Cheshire Jets on the weekend. Seventh placed Marshall MK Lions lost 68-102 to the Cheshire Jets on Sunday while the Rocks went down 59-88 on the Friday. The Rocks, who currently sit in third place in the BBL Championship on 36 points, have recently lost GB big man Randall Hanke, who departed from their roster activating a clause in his contract, and Lions playcaller Vince Macaulay sees them as a team that will have more of a threat on the perimeter than around the basket, with players such as Jessie Sapp, Rob Yanders, and Michael Crowell all able to knock down the three point shot. Macaulay said: 'The rocks have a very balanced team with maybe a little more outside than in. You can't play them if you're not going to shackle them from the outset. Jesse Sapp has guided them really well in (Rob) Yanders' absence and in (Steve) Parillon and (Gareth) Murray they have support guys who can really step up.
The last time the two sides played against each other saw a one-sided game in which the Rocks came out on top 108-78, as Steve Parillon knocked down 26 points for the victors. The match began with a 13-2 run and then two threes from Steve Parillon and one from Jessie Sapp helped the Rocks stretch out to 33-16 before two EJ Harrison free throws made it 33-18 at the first break. The Rocks then continued their onslaught in the second quarter. A 15-0 run midway through the period gave them a 25 point lead at 51-26. Lions briefly rallied with a 5-0 tear before Glasgow finished the half with a 10-3 burst to make it 61-34.
Lions' Yorick Williams then went on a one man crusade to keep his team in the match as he knocked down five three-point shots in the third quarter, but it was to no avail, as a combination of Mike Copeland and Michael Crowell put together an 8-0 run to give Rocks a 91-58 lead heading into the final period.
The charismatic Yorick Williams was dangerous for Milton Keynes from behind the arc that day, and Rocks player-coach Sterling Davis will be aware of the sharp shooter this time round, as well as veterans Robert Youngblood and Mike New. Davis commented: 'Milton Keynes are a big threat because of their aggressiveness. You have to be ready to battle them physically and mentally each time you meet them.' He added: 'Our last meeting was a physical one and I'm not expecting any different this time around.'
Remember fans, to keep up with the action log onto the BBL website for scores from tonights game, and also follow the Rocks on their very own Twitter page.
LETS GO ROCKS
Posted on 16 March, 2010
