By Dave Ryan

 

Manchester Magic bounced back from their National Cup final disappointment to record a pair of home victories over the weekend.

 

A 94-70 (stats) win against Tees Valley Mohawks saw them maintain their title challenge on Saturday, while the following day saw them reach the National Trophy final with an 85-66 (stats) victory against Reading Rockets.

 

Manchester led from tip to buzzer against Mohawks, with David Watts opening the scoring from downtown as they scored the first seven points of the game.

 

The home side led 28-13 at the first break, and shaded the second 22-21 to lead by 16 going into the locker room. A 20-18 third period effectively ended the Mohawks' challenge, and the visitors were outscored 24-18 in the final quarter.

 

Watts led the Magic with 20 while Stefan Gill finished with 19 and England junior Josh Houghton 14. Former GB international Steve Leven led all scorers with 33 for the Mohawks, but Brian McCotter was the only other Mohawk in double figures with14.

 

The following day saw a much closer game, but a strong second period ended Rockets' three year domination of the Men's Trophy.

 

Robbie Parker drained a trey to open the scoring for the visitors, and Kenny Saunders hit a jump shot with 3:42 on the clock to put Reading 13-6 ahead, and they went into the first break leading 17-14.

 

Rockets again scored first after the interval, with Jon May hitting a free-throw, and a Ryan Lohfink basket saw them again open a seven point lead with just over a minute played.

 

A Lee Goldsborough basket following an offensive rebound launched a 7-0 run as Magic got back on level terms for the first time since tip, only to see Fenny Falmagne score from outside to put Reading back in the lead with 5:50 on the clock.

 

The visitors remained ahead until the four minute mark when Gill hit a trey to level the game at 30-30, and Magic finally took their first lead of the game at the 3:28 mark when Nathan Schall hit a free-throw, but it was Rockets who took a 36-35 advantage into the locker room following a Jason Sayers basket.

 

It was still a one point game two minutes into the third before Gill launched a 12-0 run which saw Magic take control of the game.

 

A Saunders basket cut the hosts' lead to six, but Manchester finished the third period strongly, and Gill scored the final basket to send his team into fourth quarter 60-48 ahead.

 

An even start to the final period saw Rockets manage to chip three of the deficit by the five minute mark, and a Saunders basket made it a seven point game at the 4:36 mark before Yann Fasbender scored off Houghton's assist to make it 69-60 with four minutes remaining.

 

The key score came with 3:50 on the clock when Gill drained a trey launching a 10-0 run as Magic powered into their sixth straight EBL final.

 

Gill led all scorers with 31 points, adding six assists and four rebounds, while Goldsbrough finished with 19 points and Watts 18.

 

Saunders finished with 20 for Rockets, but Adam Thoseby was the only other Rocket in double figures with 12.