Rhinos 55 MK Aces 56

The first game of the day saw the Rhinos up against Milton Keynes Aces. Both teams had won one and lost one so far in this seasons Super League, but it was the first meeting between these two sides.

Rhinos started the brighter leading 10 – 6 after three minutes with forward Simon Munn doing the damage.

Another two baskets saw them extend their advantage to eight points, but a 10 – 2 run from Aces brought them back to level it at 16 – 16 with two minutes to go in the quarter.

Two more baskets from Munn and one from promising youngster Lee Manning for Aces made the score 20 – 18 to the Rhinos.

It took nearly three minutes for the first basket of the 2nd quarter to be scored, and it was Aces who got it.

They hit three on the trot to give them a lead of four points at 24 – 20. The teams then traded basket for basket up to half-time for the score to read 36 – 34 to Aces.

Midway through the 3^rd quarter, the score was tied at 42 – 42. Aces then had a succession of free-throws and shooting opportunities as Rhinos struggled to get their offence working.

They didn’t score for the next four minutes but Aces didn’t make them pay and only scored four points themselves in that time, although it was good enough to open up a four point advantage.

Rhinos finally found the basket and managed to level the scores again at 46 – 46 going into the final quarter.

This looked like it was going down to the wire and it was hard to judge who would come out on top.

However, eight points from Matt Byrne and a free-throw from Munn put Rhinos in a winning position with only three minutes to go, 55 – 50.

Rhinos had had problems throughout the game with their defensive rebounds and this proved to be vital in the closing seconds.

Aces pulled back to trail by one point at 55 – 54 with just over 30 seconds left on the clock.

Aces had possession which meant Rhinos only had to get a stop at the defensive end, and then hold onto the ball.

Rhinos defended well and forced Aces to take an outside shot with 15 seconds left which missed.

They weren’t able to pick up the defensive rebound though, giving Aces another chance to score which they did to take the victory 56 - 55.

Rhinos’ failure to score in the last three minutes and their inability to take defensive rebounds throughout the game proved costly.

Scorers:

Rhinos: Munn 20, Byrne 12, Orogbemi 11, Peasley 6, Jama 4, Fosbrook 2.

MK Aces: Choudry 16, Brown 13, Manning 8, Smith 6, Sealy 6, Virgo 5, Strange 2.