Thunder take outright leadership

Trailing by just three at the half (49-52), Thunder dug themselves a huge hole in the third quarter,. They scored a meagre five points during the period and allowed Rockets to take a 15-point advantage into the final ten minutes.

Reading would briefly extend their lead to 18 points early in the fourth before Thunder went on 14-0 run, and a Marcus Avant three-pointer shortly after that would see Worthing close the gap to just two points with four minutes to play. That effort was all to no avail, though, and Rockets held their nerve down the stretch to take the silverware.

Thunder Head Coach Gary Smith said afterwards: "Reading did a good job in that third quarter because they stepped up on the defensive end, whereas a lot of times we are the ones who are stepping up. To hold us to five points in ten minutes, that's where the game is won. No matter what we did in the fourth quarter in terms of coming back, it wasn't enough."

Pick up the Herald on Thursday for a full match report with details of a controversial decision by the match officials and further post-match reactions, including comments from former Thunder captain Gaylon Moore, who helped Plymouth Raiders to BBL Trophy Final glory following the Worthing game.