Rebels Men Fall Short Against Rockets Despite Late Push
The Essex Rebels men’s team came up just short in a hard-fought contest against the Reading Rockets, falling 76-69. Visibly fatigued from their previous night’s win over the Nottingham Hoods, Rebels struggled to keep pace through the first three quarters, but mounted a spirited fourth-quarter comeback that nearly flipped the game in their favour.
Reading Rockets took control early, outscoring the Rebels 21-14 in the first quarter, and extended their lead to 43-31 by halftime. The Rebels’ offensive struggles, paired with Reading’s efficient shooting from beyond the arc (34.8% on three-pointers), left them chasing the game.
Despite the loss, Luke Busumbru continued his strong form, leading the Rebels with 16 points. He was supported again by Emmanuel Kanwei with 13 points and Connor Nelson, who added 12. However, the Rebels found it difficult to find consistent offensive rhythm, shooting just 37.1% from the field.
For Reading, new signing Justin Hopkins was the standout performer with 21 points, while Lewis Champion added 19. Mitch Clarke contributed 10 points, with the Rockets’ bench making a significant impact, outscoring the Rebels’ bench 28-11.
Coach Norfolk commented after the game:
“Tough turnaround with a double header this weekend. We started slow and didn’t find our rhythm until later on in the game. It was great to see that we stayed resilient and dug deep to trim down the score line to 7 points. We now look ahead to next weekend where we play another tough match up against Derby!”
TOP PERFORMERS:
- Connor Nelson: 12 Points | 11 Rebounds | 4 Steals | 2 Blocks
- Luke Busumbru: 16 Points | 9 Rebounds | 5 Assists
- Daniel Thompson-Johnson: 9 Points | 5 Rebounds | 2 Blocks
Looking Ahead: A Tough Test Against the Derby Trailblazers next Sunday
The Rebels, now 1-2 in the league, will have a chance to regroup next week when they face reigning league champions, Derby Trailblazers, at the Essex Sport Arena on Sunday 27 October. Derby, coming off back-to-back wins over Worthing and Thames Valley, will provide a stern test for the Rebels, who will be eager to bounce back and defend home court.
Get your tickets now for what promises to be another exciting matchup!
#UpTheRebels
