NEWCASTLE NEED FOURTH QUARTER SURGE TO BEAT READING IN PLAYOFF FINAL EPIC

Newcastle Knights captured the BCB Playoff title with a 93-83 triumph over the Aldermore Reading Rockets at the Leeds Beckett Arena on Sunday.

An epic game to end what was an epic season. All square at 68-68 going into the final period, the Knights made their move early and soon established a 10-point lead with 2:22 to go in the fourth, with Reading seeing standouts, Victor Olarerin and Zain Poorman foul out in that period.

Earlier, the Rockets established their own 10-point lead before the Knights made their move and the Tyneside outfit sealed the win in emphatic fashion with a two-hand dunk from Theo Riley with 29 seconds remaining to put the game out of reach at 89-81.

Sam Trunley’s game was cut short after sustaining an ankle injury in the fourth quarter, but he led Newcastle with 30 points as he collected the Finals MVP award with one leg. Bradley Dean had 20 points, with Messiah Jones pulling down a monster 20 rebounds to go with 18 points.

BCB Player of the Year JaRon Thames played all 40 minutes and had 14 points, seven rebounds and three steals.

Olarerin amassed 25 points for Reading, with 13 of those coming in the first period. Jax Bouknight chipped in with 20, as they missed out on the domestic double, with the league title to show in what has been a superb season, led by Coach of the Year, Samit Nuruzade.

Jubilation, though, for the Knights as they claimed a trophy that they so richly deserved. And as the BCB season wraps up with next Sunday’s All-Star Game in Worthing, the three trophies on offer were won by three different teams.