READING WIN A NAIL-BITER TO BECOME BCB LEAGUE CHAMPS

The Aldermore Reading Rockets are the inaugural BCB league champions after they overcame the Derby Trailblazers 74-73 in an edge-of-your-seat thriller in the East Midlands.

However, the Rockets certainly didn't breeze past the finish line; instead, they had to crawl, relying on back-to-back scores from Jax Bouknight in the final 1:47, with the telling score from the American coming with eight seconds left.

Bouknight drove to the hoop and was fouled by Conner Washington as he got the score plus the foul to tie the game at 73-73. The guard then calmly slotted the game-winning free throw that proved to be the Rockets' golden ticket.

Reading did have to endure one frantic Trailblazers possession, as Malcolm Smith went for glory and take the title race to the final day, but he fluffed his lines. 

Earlier, the Rockets stormed out of the blocks in the fourth quarter to lead 63-53 through scores from Cooper Creek. It was Reading's biggest lead in a game that was otherwise too close to call.

Both teams enjoyed slender leads before that, and the visitors looked to close out the game from there, but the Trailblazers had other ideas.

The hosts fought back and, with three minutes left, took the lead at 71-69 through a three-pointer from Mo Walker.

In a tense finish, that kept fans of both sides glued to the action, Bouknight decided it was his time. It was Reading's time.

And he came through. The guard led the winners with 23 points and went 4-for-8 from three-point land. Creek and Zain Poorman added 11 apiece.

Walker had a double-double for the Trailblazers with 20 points and 14 rebounds. 

Reading's title celebration will take place next Sunday at home to the Milton Keynes Breakers in their final league game before the playoffs commence.