READING Rockets completed their fourth straight NBL Division One win with an explosive fourth-quarter display to pull clear of Hemel Storm 97-80 at Rivermead Leisure Complex on Sunday.

Things did not go to plan for the home side early on as Hemel hit five trebles in the first quarter to edge ahead 23-18, although impressive displays from Adrian O’Sullivan and Sydney Donaldson kept Rockets in the hunt.

Rockets drained five trebles in the second stanza with O’Sullivan nailing a buzzer-beating shot to take Rockets to the locker room 45-42 ahead.

In a physical encounter, Storm inched 63-62 in front by the end of the third period, but Rockets upped their game magnificently in the final 15 minutes.

A Donaldson two-and-one followed immediately by captain Danny Carter repeating the play coupled to a fast break and exquisite bounce pass from AJ Carr to Trae Pemberton caused Hemel to call a time-out as they were on the wrong end of an 8-0 run and trailing Rockets by seven points.

Arinze Emeka-Anyakwo then stroked a treble which Pemberton matched moments later and Rockets had ignited to lead and hit a 19-0 run for an 81-63 lead.

Hemel scored six unanswered points, but Rockets regrouped and saw the game out efficiently.

The mercurial Irishman O’Sullivan top scored with 32 points, seven rebounds, three assists and a pair of steals as head coach Alan Keane is increasingly seeing his charges grow in stature and confidence.

Carr – who was out of much of the game after being called for a couple of fouls inside the opening four minutes – came late to the party with 10 points and six rebounds, with Donaldson hitting 14 points and taking down six rebounds. Pemberton had five trebles in his 17 points, and also added eight rebounds and five assists.

Emeka-Anyakwo provided a season’s best of 13 points and five rebounds.

Rockets (4-2) are now up to fourth in the table ahead of a weekend off, after which they travel to Team Solent Kestrels on Saturday, November 24.

The following evening they visit Essex Leopards in the National Trophy, knowing victory will take them into the knock-out stages.