Rocks pumped by positive start
Mark Woods
Two basketball games, Two victories. A faultless beginning to Edinburgh Rocks' new Dairylea Dunkers Championship campaign. In front of an supportive Meadowbank crowd, the Rocks made it a winning home bow with a 88-75 defeat of Derby Storm.
And it was American John McCord who fully justified the hyperbole placed upon his athletic shoulders by the Scottish media. A second successive game high 30 point haul underlined the extra impetus which he has brought to the capital side and provided a spark which led his men past tenacious Midlands opponents.
"It's great to be two and zero right now," declared McCord. "Fatigue played a factor for us with a long journey up and back. We were fortunate to get the win in Leicester and we just wanted to come here and get another. Coach thought we made a lot of mistakes but you have to expect that when you play back to back. You have to take a win where you can get it."
Having received the applause of a sizeable home support, the stage was poised for Brandon's team to put on a Sunday showcase against a Derby team who have been bedevilled by late roster changes this week.
Coach Martin Ford gave a debut to four late arrivals with the impressive point guard role filled by Wayne Mulgrave in the absence of American Frank Harris, who quit the club at the last minute. Cypheus Bunton was also injured and Storm are awaiting the arrival of new American Kip Stone and the return of Stedroy Baker after a season with Leopards.
The tenacious visitors were not briefed on the script and their tough defence took them into a seven point lead midway through the second quarter. A higher gear was required for the hometown side, and it was rapidly engaged in compiling a 19-2 spurt to finish the half 44-34 to the good.
Derby did not relent and seven points without reply brought them back within touching distance late in the third quarter. However Edinburgh's new back-court pairing of Ted Berry and Joel Burns, both Storm old boys, steered up the Rocks ship on a firm course for victory. With three of the visiting line up fouling out before the finish, there was no spoiling the Rocks party.
And despite some defensive frailties, coach Brandon was mainly satisfied with early victories which have already turned last season's poor start on its head.
"We knew Sunday would be a tough game because of the gruelling double header which is punishing in early season. Leicester put up a good fight and the final score didn't really exemplify how hard they played.
"But I still think we did some great things against Leicester which we didn't manage against Derby. We will take that on board."
For Derby, late signing Carl Miller showed that he can be an asset in a starting role in notching 24 points and he was delighted with how the team showed up.
"We played hard and as a team which is tremendous for a group of guys who had only been together for less than three days. We will be a winning team once we get everythign clicking and our two Americans in.
"But it was nice to show people that Carl Miller can still play."
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