Wolverhampton Rhinos 67 - 48 Belfast Knights National League 1st Division North
Rhinos came into this game wanting to extend their unbeaten start to the season, whilst the Knights brought over a strong squad from Belfast looking for their first win of the season.
Forward Simon Munn opened the scoring with a typical post up shot from just outside the key for Rhinos, before Gallacher got the Knights on the board after some neat ball handling.
The teams traded basket for basket until the seventh minute when Bingham scored six unanswered points for the away side leaving them 16 - 12 infront, which prompted a time-out from Rhinos coach Sinclair Thomas.
Knights were moving the ball well on offence and shooting a high percentage from outside, which meant the Rhinos defence had to get out to stop the shots.
They did this and tied the game at 18 - 18 by the end of the 1st quarter. Rhinos started the 2nd quarter well opening up a six point lead 26 - 20.
Their biggest scoring threats, forwards Munn and Fred Howley, were substituted having scored all of their teams points so far, but the team continued to score after their departure increasing their advantage to eight points at the half time whistle, 34 - 26.
The game was still finely balanced going into the 3rd quarter, so it needed a good start from Knights if they were to eat into their opposition’s lead, and a good start from Rhinos if they were to take control of the match.
Munn and Howley were restored to the line-up and continued to expose the lack of height in a small Knights unit, as they kept the scoreboard ticking along.
The Rhinos were able to extend their lead and go into the 4th quarter with a more comfortable margin of fourteen points, 48 - 34. Knights’ managed to reduce the deficit to ten points at one stage in the final period, with player coach Kennedy scoring nine points personal in the space of four minutes, but it proved too hard to get within single figures.
Local boy Kyle Marsh scored a 3-pointer on the buzzer as the home side finally put The Knights to the sword running out 67 - 48 winners.
Scorers: Rhinos: Munn 22, Howley 16, Marsh 11, Peasley 8, Foden 6, Byrne 4.
Knights: Bingham 18, Kennedy 9, McKillop 8, Rollston 6, Gallacher 5, Young 2.
Rhinos now have a six week break before their next match at home to Sheffield Steelers on Saturday 1st December.
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