Season update

The season started very late for the Senior Ladies with games coming at the end of October. November has been very successful with some great team performances leading to 3 wins and 0 losses so far.

Bristol was our first league opponent this year and we traveled with a depleted team due to injuries. The team of 8 put in a competitive performance which included Cat Lutz 62 pts, Mel Espin and Natacha Paris with 11 and Asrina Miah scoring 8. 118-33 the final score and Veena Khanolkar made her senior debut whilst the U18s traveled to Northampton is there league match.

Sunday we faced the London Badgers in the National Trophy and were able to give 3 under 18's there Senior debut Deborah Somoyee, Wandisa Weekes and Chantelle Fernandes helped the group to a 78-52 win. Cat Lutz continued her scoring charge with 27, Mel Espin with 12 and 16 year old Chantelle Fernandes scoring 8. This is some really encouraging signs with starting point guard Silvia Garcia and Small Forward Rhiane Szmidt resting with injuries and Carla Gabernet on leave it shows the strength of this years group. 

Saturday 15th the Ladies faced a talented Cardiff City and continued to build on there focus points. Defensive energy, physical presence and team chemistry were emphasis points and this led to a 99-61 scoreline. Top scorers were Cat Lutz 32, Mel Espin 18 and Carla Gabernet making her season debut with 14. 

Wandisa and Orie Amadi played up in this fixture and were given some tough match ups with them both taking time to guard  Laura Shanahan the Wales high scoring guard. Coming into the game she was averaging 22 pts and keeping her to 13 was a great team performance as we knew she was going to be there go to player. 

Head Coach Josh Thorne was really pleased with the teams early season progress. 'At this time we are focusing on getting the basics right. Putting the team first, competing for 40 minutes, understanding our defensive systems and making sure we are asking questions. Understanding why, when and how are a must. The groups energy at training has been very positive and the quality of the U18s means we have a large pool of girls playing Seniors. The environment is healthy, we are moving forward each week and the group is hungry to see how good we could be'.

Welcome Asrina Miah

Name :
Asrina Miah

Age:

25

Years Playing:

12 years

Clubs Played:

London Westside, Kingston University, London Metropolitan University, Kingston Wildcats, Woking Blackhawks, Mole Valley Phoenix, South-East Regional U14, London U18, Surrey Women's.

Achievements:

Kingston University Mvp '11, Rimini Tournament Mvp '11, Kingston Wildcats Mvp '07, '08, London Metropolitan Mvp '07, ,

Won the BUCS League with Kingston University in '11, Won Rimini Tournament '11, Won the Busa League with London Metropolitan in '07, Won the County League in 2004-2006 with Kingston Wildcats

1st place 3pt contest Barcelona '14, 1st place 3pt contest Salou '12, 2nd place 3pt contest Bradford '14.

Experience of being involved with Rockets and why you wanted to become a rocket:

I wanted to join the Rockets as soon I entered their home court, the atmosphere was very positive and the members were very welcoming. The Club has a family feel to it that had attracted me. Every member is dedicated and hardworking, we all love the game and want each other to succeed, I can feel this connection even though I have not been here for very long. The managers, coaches and players are very committed and they are always striving to make the club better.

Asrina is number 4

Pre Season

Pre Season

The girls have been keeping themselves busy with friendlies vs Camden, Oaklands and making the final of the Aztec Tournament. Going into their final pre season game vs Cardiff Uni with a 6-1 record gives the girls lots of confidence going into the season.

Abby O'brien and Maitena Senar

Abby and Maitena have joined the Rockets family this summer and have settled in quickly. The most important part of being a Rocket is what a player brings to the environment, you must be competitive, but honest and open. These two ladies have really enhanced the family feel in the group. 2014-15 is going to be a great year for these two ladies. 

Here are some brief introductions for the girls.

Name: Abby O'Brien
Age: 20
Years Playing: 7/8
Clubs Played: Sefton Stars, Cheshire Jets.
Having played for the past few years in the North I knew that I definitely wanted to play basketball while in Reading. I had heard through the grapevine that Rockets are a good team and upon researching them I learnt that their stats backed this up. 

After speaking to Josh, the coach of Div 2 Women, I attended my first training session and it was then that I realized what a lovely community the Rockets team is. Everyone was really welcoming and encouraging and worked together to improve not only themselves, but the team as a whole. It was this family like community that made me realize I had joined the right club, not only for skill development but also to make some great friends.


Abby is number 9 in the picture.

Name: Maitena Senar
Age: 25
Years playing: 16
Clubs played: San Fermin ikastola, UPNA, Sant Adria Femeni, C.B Cerdanyola, NASSA, London Westside
Achievements: 
Play with U-12, U-14 and U-16 Navarra's Regional Team the Spanish National Tournament.
Move up from Primera Catalana to Copa Catalana with C.B Cerdanyola in 2007
Win the Div2 league with NASSA in 2012
Win the Div2 league with London Westside in 2013

2nd position in Bradford tournament with London Westside in 2014

Experience of being involved with Rockets and why you wanted to become a rocket: 

Rockets is a close family club which makes me feel part of it. This strong bond is important for me in order to know where I come from and where I want to go as a player 

6 New Senior Players for the 2014-15 Season

2014-15 sees the signing of 6 new talented young players from a wide range of nationalalities. Rockets are very excited to work with these young people and help them develop and work on their seasons dreams and aspirations.

Rita Silva is 25 and started playing at 11 years old.
She has played for CBA and Algès (Portugal) her achievements include Mvp 2002 under-14 regional tournament Div II; Under 16 Portuguese National Team qualification for 2004 Bosnia Herzegovina European Championship.

So far it has been great being with Reading Rockets, everyone is very welcoming and im really excited for the season. I wanted to be a rocket because its seemed like a good club to be a part of and a good team for me.

We will be introducing the new players over the next few days as well as words from new Assistant Coach Alberto Silvestre.

 

2014-15 - Going the extra mile

The off season has been going really well. We had trials in early June and summer training followed for both the U18 and Senior teams who have now been training together for 6 weeks.

This summer has been driven by the goal of  going the extra mile, creating team first, we not me playing / coaching environment and we have been big advocates of the recent NBA winning San Antonio Spurs.

This article about Rashard Lewis and sarafice was also a big driver for us - http://hangtime.blogs.nba.com/2014/05/25/lewis-reserve-role-with-heat-would-not-have-fit-his-younger-self/

The club welcomes Alberto Silvestre who hails from Madrid, Spain. Alberto will be joining the coaching staff of Josh Thorne and Rick Buckner who are looking to build on last years successes.

2014-15 sees new challenges and new goals, we will be welcoming new players in both squads and we will be introducing them shortly.

Please check out are Facebook page and if you want to be involved please get in touch https://www.facebook.com/rocketsladiesprogram?ref_type=bookmark.

2014-15 Trials

2014 - 15 Trials

Rockets Senior and U18 Ladies

June 6th and 13th 7.30 - 9.30pm

John Madejski School

RG2 8AF

Contact: 0118 9263040

Email: gary@readingrockets.com

£6 for both trials

READING ROCKETS ADVANCE TO THE SEMI FINALS AFTER 71-43 WIN OVER LOUGHBOROUGH!

This past weekend saw Loughborough Student Riders 2nd team, take the drive down to Reading for the 2014 Division II Women's Playoff Quarter Finals.

Coach Thorne was really pleased with the initial draw in the playoffs, ''I enjoy the experience of playing a new team from a different league. Some years you play the same team 3 to 4 times and it becomes repetitive. I was excited to see what Loughborough 2nds were like, being the feeder team for a Division 1 program I was expecting some talented girls and plenty of athleticism".

Coming into the playoff match, the Rockets didn't have a full strength team available with Captain Steph Johnson out injured with bruised ligaments in her ankle, but luckily the Rockets had been able to play a double header the previous weekend which gave other players time to adjust to slightly different roles. The Rockets split the double header weekend suffering their only league loss to Birmingham 70-62 after traveling with a young Rockets team consisting of only four senior players, but the ladies bounced back with a tremendous defensive game vs Bromsgrove the next day defeating the Bears 81-21.  The Rockets had some tension to release after their loss and the girls executed fantastically what they set out to do.

They came into the playoffs full of confidence and energy. As a strong defensive team the Rockets looked to make stops defensively to spark their offense and to make a run on the visiting Loughborough Student Riders.  They pushed the ball and played unselfishly finding ways to score both inside and out and they were able to control their creative play as veteran point guard Claire Maytham took the helm and helped to keep the team's composure from the tip.

1st period - 15-9 to Rockets.

Until 45s to go in the period Rockets were up 15-3 and Loughborough looked shaken. But 2 big 3s from missed defensive assignments meant Loughborough went into the quarter break on a high.

2nd period - 37-20 to Rockets

Alex Stollery had an outstanding quarter - dominating the post on defense, running in transition, she set the tone for the group. Coaches Thorne and Buckner wanted 40 minutes of intensity and the strength of the team is its depth. Melissa Espin and Carla De Benavides Gabernet were relentless in their offensive rebounds and picking off reversal passes.

The focus at half time was to win the 2nd half by continuing to push the ball and to walk off the court with no regrets at the final whistle.  Starting the 3rd quarter 0-0 with some highlighted areas to improve the Rockets came out ready to fight.

3rd period - 56-27 to Rockets

As the Rockets extended their lead in the 3rd quarter, U18s Denisa Molnar, Eloise Sneddon and Rhiane Szmidt got an opportunity to play some extended minutes which is going to stand them in great sted going into their playoff quarter finals with Sheffield in April. 

4th period - 71-43 to Rockets

Great fight back from Loughborough winning this period 16-15 as they took advantage of a defensive change from the Rockets. Coach Patel can be very proud of his girls, all being aged 16-19 with a great attitude. You can see why they came 2nd in the North league and will be an even bigger force coming into next season. The Rockets were a more experienced team and it showed as each team member contributed through hard work and determination. Becky Lear and Cat Lutz lead the Rockets' scoring with 13 a piece and Carla De Benavides Gabernet added 12. 

Rockets Division II Women make club history! First league title and now first trip to the playoff Semi Finals!

 

If you can make the trip to the Brixton Rec on Sunday at 2pm that would be fantastic. Brixton made the Trophy Final, finished their league season undefeated and are ranked 2nd in the country. We are really looking forward to the opportunity to play a high ranked team.

Being the highest scoring team in the country from league play at 92.35 and Brixton averaging 72.2 it shows both teams can score. Brixton have a great defensive record forcing teams to 37.36 and Rockets 47.21 that brings the scoring difference a bit close together. But Stats mean nothing come game day. It is going to be a fantastic experience and we look to keep growing as a group and as individuals. 

DIVISION II WOMEN - MIDLANDS SOUTH WEST LEAGUE CHAMPIONS!

Over the weekend the Division II Women traveled to Cardiff, Wales to play against Cardiff City in a deciding game for the first place spot in the Midlands South West league.  The Rockets faced many challenges that day, traveling with a smaller squad due to another fixture for the U18 that same day, the Rockets needed to play smart basketball in order not to deplete their small bench of three players. 

The first quarter set the tone for the game as the Rockets were called for several early fouls which slowed down their momentum and sent Cardiff to the free-throw line where they were able to convert. Cardiff City came out with determination to defeat the number one team in the league as they outscored the Rockets in the first quarter 15-11.

The second quarter belonged to the Rockets though as they came out pushing the ball up the floor and chipped away at Cardiff City's lead converting several fast break buckets.  The Rockets played great team basketball and were able to out-score Cardiff 26-18 and finished the second on top 37-33.   

The third quarter again belonged to the Rockets outscoring Cardiff 25-14 as they continued to battle inside and out, finding open shots and going hard to the basket.  Fouls continued to be a huge factor in the game and eventually caught up with the Rockets in the fourth quarter with both forwards Becky Lear and Carla Gabernet fouling out of the game.  With four minutes left to play Rockets guard Steph Johnson suffered an ankle injury on a rebound that took her out of the game, bringing in their last player on the bench. 

The last four minutes of the game was a battle as Cardiff City continued to fight, connecting 3-4 shots in the last 2 minutes to bring the game within 6 points.  The Rockets showed a lot of composure and worked together to hold the lead for a 80-74 win and securing the league title.  Leading the Rockets in scoring was Cat Lutz with 33, Melissa England Espin with 17 and Carla Gabernet who added 13. 

Next weekend the Rockets finish the regular season with a double header, they travel to Birmingham on the 15th and welcome Bromsgrove at home on the 16th.

Congratulations Ladies!!! 

Natacha Ponsoda Paris

My name is Natacha Ponsoda Paris and I am a 5.8 guard/point guard from Spain. I have always loved basketball! I started because my best friend at school played... So I joined her. That happened more that 20 years ago!!! Omg!!! Since then, I have always tried to keep playing while working, studying and travelling!

No11 Natacha Paris

My first team was my school team, Loreto. I played there since I was 17 and after that I joined Alginet and Claret in National 1.
After those years I moved to Italy for a new experience with Pink Bari where I had a great season with all the crazy Italian team mates. I was studying there as well to finish my degree so when the academic year finished I went back home to play for my ex-coach in Godella, where I met my boyfriend Migue that plays for the Reading men's team! By the end of the season I had already a new trip planned and I was heading to London for the first time!

I played for Nassa with coach Max and learnt a lot from him... Even though I planned to be in UK for good I spent another year in Italy playing for CB Umbertide. It was great to share training sessions and friendly games with the A1 team! There I met Nuria Martinez, the Spanish national team point guard!!!  After this experience I had nearly two years without basketball until back in London I joined Rick and Manu in Westside and Reading!!!

I'm enjoying this season with the girls so much, I bet I couldn't find a better way to be back on the court than with Reading Rockets.  We just need to finish the season doing what we have been doing until now... Playing hard, together and unselfish to win the league!

GO ROCKETS!!!!!

DIVISIOIN II WOMEN CONTINUE TO LEAD

Last weekend the Rockets Division II Women's team travelled to Oxford for a must win game. A win would ensure a playoff place and keep their dream of winning the league alive. Rockets started the game well, playing patient, effective offence giving our shooters Cat Lutz and Melissa England Espin the opportunity to take open shots which they duly converted.


Forward Becky Lear

In first half we were able to convert on the break and from offence but it was our inside play from Becky Lear and Alex Stollery that gave us a commanding lead at the end of the half. We fully expected Oxford to come out strong in the third quarter and they showed us a few glimpses of their potential with Angelique Brown being aggressive inside and on the boards and Alice Walton trying to get her game going on the outside. However the Rockets played an aggressive zone which limited their scoring opportunities and they continued to convert on the offensive end with Becky Lear scoring at will.


Becky Lear ended the game with 27points, Cat Lutz with 14 points, and Melissa England Espin added 13 points.  It was a great team performance that allowed a 30 point win over one of the top 3 teams.

The women have three more games coming up in the regular season, Bromsgrove, Birmingham and Cardiff City, and the Rockets are focused and ready to work hard for those final wins that will propel them into the playoffs with a perfect 14-0 record.

Henley College Girls - South East College Champions!!

Congratulations Ladies!!!

Park House School Academy

Park House School in Newbury is working in collaboration with Reading Rockets to provide 11-18 year olds the chance to play basketball whilst studying in an outstanding educational establishment. 

 

Do you feel you want the educational support and freedom to excel academically and can match that with a passion for basketball? Then Park House School might be the right place for you.

 

Driven to excel in both the classroom and the court we hope to offer you the chance to take your further education world wide.

 

If you want to take a visit or have any further questions please contact Matthew Johnson at matthewjohnson1973@gmail.com.

Reading College Basketball Academy

Do you fancy studying anything you like and
play basketball at the same time?

 

Reading College offers you the chance to take your pick of subjects whether it is vocational or theory based they have you covered.

 

This season the Academy has 13 selected performers and another seven players that are part of a development group.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

AVERAGE WEEK:

Each student will get approx. 11 hours of basketball each week on top of their chosen full time College study programme.

The week is split into the following:

Monday
8:15-10am - Position Specific training (Guards/Forwards)
 

Tuesday
8:15-10am - Shooting in groups 1, 2 or 3. (Times staggered)
 

Wednesday
1 - 5pm - Games or inter group scrimmage
 

Thursday
8:15 - 10am - Shooting (as Tuesday)
 

Friday
8:30 - 10am - Conditioning day (SAQ training, Heavy ropes etc)

More Information: contact Matt Johnson matt@readingrockets.co.uk

 

John Madejski Academy - NOW RECRUITING!

 

The 2014-15 season is fast approaching and John Madejski Academy is preparing for its upcoming recruitment of student athletes.

This season we are increasing our focus on girls basketball, with an emphasis on Sixth Form athletes looking to take their education and basketball to the next level.

Our partnership with Reading Rockets allows us to offer Elite level programming and athlete development, supported by its National League Senior and Junior programs.

If you are interested in visiting the academy or taking part in one of the sessions, please do not hesitate to contact Head of Development Mathew Johnson.

Email: mathewjohnson1973@gmail.com
Mobile: 07834372952

The Henley College - Reading Rockets - Player Development Partnership

The Henley College Basketball Academy provides a unique opportunity for student athletes to pursue academic excellence, sporting excellence and gain valuable coaching awards.

 

The Academy Head Coach, Mark Halewood, under the direction of Reading Rockets Head of Junior Development and Reading College Basketball Academy Head Coach Matt Johnson, has implemented a development program working in partnership with The Henley College and Reading Rockets Basketball Club.

The program gives students the opportunity to pursue a wide variety of educational courses, as well as pursue their achievement of excellence in basketball.

 

Unlike many other academies, The Henley College Basketball Academy aims to bring together a high achieving academic environment with that of performance sport. Students attending the College can choose from a wide variety of courses such as A Levels, Extended Diplomas and Level 2 Diplomas. The Academy’s first aim is to ensure its student athletes gain a high standard of qualification while they train.

 

Within the Academy itself athletes will develop their skills through a challenging program consisting of 4 main training areas:

•Individual
•Cooperative
•Shooting
•Strength and Conditioning

Athletes competing at a High to Elite Level will be assessed by a Strength and Conditioning coach and given an individual conditioning program to follow. Each player will be fitness tested, as well as undergoing shooting and skills tests. Along with developing the athlete, the Academy combines the delivery of the UKCC Basketball Level I and II qualification with basketball.

 

Overall, the Academy provides an environment of high achievement on and off the court. With the successful partnership between Reading Rockets and The Henley College, players have the opportunity to play at the highest level of club basketball. Whether it is at a Junior level with our premiership, Conference U18 squads or training with Division 1 or 4, the Rockets system allows players a clear pathway of development into the highest level of senior English basketball.

 

2013-14 AASE Students (Left to Right) Eloise Sneddon, Hannah Whiteley, Freya and Rhiane Szmidt, Denisa Molnar and Jasmine Long

2013-2014 AASE Student Freya Szmidt (No 9) representing GB U20s in World 3 v 3

Under 14, 16 and 18 Teams recruiting for 2014-15 Season!

  

 

***Reading Rockets is currently holding selective open practices for prospective players and parents to try out a practice session, meet with current players and coaches and provide an opportunity to get the feel for the basketball club.***

The Women's and Girl's program is headed up by GB Coach Matt Johnson and supported by AASE academy coaches Manuel Pena Garces, Mark Halewood and club coaches Josh Thorne, Rick Buckner, Steph Johnson and Cat Lutz.

The club is in the process of selecting its junior rosters for the coming season, with the focus on Spring and Summer training. The club wants to open its doors to new members and widen the opportunities for the South of England's most eager and talented young women. 

An example of a typical training week for the teams include:

Under 14s - 1 team practice, involving individual and team drills, and 1 CVL (Central Venue League) based session, which is game based. 

Under 16s - 2 team practices: 1 that is individual and team focused and 1 that is mixed with the U18 girls.

Under 18s - 2 - 3 practices per week: 1 individual and team based, 1 mixed with the Senior women and an opportunity to train with the Seniors for the top 5 U18 players.

U18s also have the opportunity to be involved with The Henley Basketball Academy and the John Madejski Basketball Academy, which provides players an extra 10+ hours of individual, strength and conditioning and game based opportunities for those players wishing to take their games to new heights.

If you wish to get involved with a Rockets training session please email steph.johnson6@gmail.com to arrange a visit.

U18 WOMEN CLINCH 2ND PLACE WITH 77-59 WIN OVER HORNETS

Game Report - 15/02/2014

Bucks Hornets 59 v Reading Rockets 77

By Coach Buckner

 

This weekend's game between 3rd place Buck's Hornets and 2nd place Reading Rockets was always going to be a tense affair as whoever won would cement 2nd place and become the favorite to grab a spot in the play-off's. After a crushing defeat by just 3 points last week it was great to see the girls working hard and showing real focus in training, this definitely paid off in the game.

 

We started well and the ball movement that the coaches have been emphasizing in training was put into good practice, we were just too quick for Bucks and always had an open player, with Bucks mainly playing zone defense this meant we had to find the gaps and hit some shots, something that our girls do well. By the end of the quarter we were up 18-12.

 

The 2nd quarter was tighter, a few turnovers crept in and Bucks started to play a bit more fluidly, but we relied on our defense and even though Bucks were looking better we limited them to 13 points and scored 15 ourselves. So at half-time Rockets were up 33-25 and for once have no players in foul trouble!

 

After we re-grouped and had a chat I asked the girls for a big 3rd quarter, normally they don't disappoint! This time was no different, we came out firing and hit Bucks on the fast break repeatedly and finished our breaks very well under pressure. This set the tone for the rest of the game, we either ran hard on the break or passed quickly when in set offence to push our lead and win the game, at the end of the 3rd we were up 57-41 and cruising.

 

As ever though, there were a few twists and turns before the game was over, Bucks hit some big shots and our offence stalled for a minute or so despite a time-out and further discussion, at one stage the lead was down to just 9 points. Over the course of this season the Rockets girls have developed some resilience and determination though and nothing was going to stop us from winning this game! The passing stepped up a gear and then suddenly we had open attackers all over the court again, the scoring increased and even though Bucks stepped up too we made sure that we won the 4th quarter as well as the previous 3. The final score was 77-59, with some big contributions from Freya, Eloise and Denisa who scored 20, 18 and 17 respectively, but this was a team effort and all 9 players worked so hard for the team the get the result we needed, the no-nonsense defense we played and selfless passing were the keys to this win.

U18 Continue Push for the Play-Offs After Suffering 3pt Defeat

Game Report - 08/02/14

U18 Ladies

Reading Rockets v Hertfordshire Warriors

 

On Saturday, the U18 Lady Rockets welcomed the league leaders to The Rivermead Centre, with the Rockets team in confident mood, feeling last time these two teams played the game was theirs to win but slipped away from the Rockets in the 4th quarter. The game started well and the Rockets were moving the ball nicely on offence, even though the Warriors' fast break and dribble penetration kept them in the game, and they finished the quarter 4 points up at 19-15 and were looking good.

 

Things didn't go as well in the 2nd quarter though, too many turn-overs through forced passes and bad shot selections, along with three of the Rocket's forwards were called for a few fouls and by the time the half ended the Rockets had Freya, Rhiane and Levi all on 3 fouls, which is not ideal against a team that likes to attack the basket. The quarter ended with the Rockets leading 30-29 so the game was still in the balance.

 

The Rockets normally provide some fireworks in the 3rd quarter and this game was no different, they found some confidence again and pushed the ball up the court for a few fast-breaks, with the guards also starting to shoot from outside. Halfway through the quarter the Rockets were in a good place but unfortunately both Freya and Levi got called for their 4th fouls, both a little dubious according to Coach Rick Buckner, and this proved crucial to the flow of the game as the Rockets' captain had to sit on the bench just as they were looking to increase the lead and give themselves a buffer for the 4th quarter. Levi stayed on and did a good job to finish the game without further fouls.

 

Jas Long

Going into the 4th the Rockets were up 48-42 and should have been in control but unfortunately they were playing last year's National Champions and the difference between the two teams showed in the 4th. They lost composure on offence and forced too many bad passes and over-dribbled the ball, these mistakes were pounced on by the opposition and converted into points down the other end. With time running down the Warriors took the lead for the first time in the game and things weren't looking great for the Rockets. With less than 30 seconds left the Rocket's were down by 3 points and if any team in the league could come back though it was the Rockets. They gained some composure and ran an offence that ended with the 3 point shot from Jas Long to tie the game but it wasn't to be and the game ended Rockets 60 v Warriors 63.

 

Coach Buckner was quoted after the game saying "Even though we lost against the Warriors our push for the play-off's is still very much alive and next weeks away game to Bucks Hornets is crucial. The girls were a little upset after the game but I know they'll be 100% focused tonight at training and give their all for the team".

A Captains Journey - Steph Johnson

A Captains Journey!

My love for the game started at 14 years old at Secondary School when a group of us realized that there was a game out there that was more exciting than netball!! (I know you would never believe it!). So we threw our netball skirts aside and swapped them for some baggy shorts and a vest that fell off your shoulders. We found the tallest teacher we could in the school which was actually a female and convinced her that she looked more like a basketball coach than anyone else and would she sit every lunchtime in the sports hall with us so we could practice and give up some afterschool time for fixtures! (I don’t think we were really asking a lot).

Amazingly she agreed and I continued to play all through school and had a brief spell training with the under 16 England Squad. At 16 I finished at Theale Green and continued my passion for sport at Henley College where I also joined Division 1 outfit Thames valley Tigers Women’s team. This was a huge experience in my basketball life as I learnt that you travel more than about 20 minutes to get to an away game and also that coaches can really shout a lot when they aren’t happy.

This was the toughest experience I have ever had of being publically ripped to pieces by a coach. What also didn’t help is that he was Hungarian so most of the time I had no idea what he was saying anyway. I spent many a training session moving to the back of drill lines hiding behind 6”4 females to watch what we actually should be doing. However this experience at the elite end set me in good stead to deal with the highs and lows of playing sport at the top end.

Unfortunately 2 seasons later the team collapsed due to the sponsor pulling out!!

This was a blessing in disguise as this led me to find the Rockets after being spotted at a Sunny D 3v3 competition. I went along to Queen Anne’s School for my first session at 17 and I never looked back!

At 18 I was due to go to Brighton University to study sport, however I deferred my entry and proposed an opportunity to the Rockets that they simply couldn’t turn down!!!!! The plan was to dedicate a year to becoming a fully qualified professional coach for the club. This was achieved and after a year I had the coaching bug and turned down my place at Brighton and changed to Reading Uni so I could continue my work with the club. My dream was to set up the Rockets first every girls programme to compliment the women’s team they already had running. Through much support from the club we are here 13 years later with a strong and ever growing girls programme and in my opinion the best women’s team we have ever had!

My journey so far has been an incredible mix of experiences with a spell coaching on the England Basketball National programme, 2 summers coaching in the states, getting a degree, Qualifying as a nutrition specialist, a children’s fitness instructor and a gym instructor oh and also getting married and having 2 amazing children (well I would say that!!)

Every weekend involves a trip on the M4 with a bag of balls and a buggy in the boot Peppa Pig on the IPad and Pom Bears on tap!!!!

It has been an honour to be the Rockets captain over the last 9 years and I know with the committed and talented group we have this year I hope to lead them towards a league victory!

Yours

Steph

U18 Women Come Home with a Victory!

Game Report

Gloster Jets - 34 v Reading Rockets - 54

 

We went into this away game against an improving Gloster team minus 4 players, Denisa and Levi were selected to play for the seniors away at Cardiff on the same day, Eloise was away on holiday and unfortunately Milly was ill. So this gave a chance for a few players to step up in terms of game time and positions played, I'm happy to say that they all rose to the challenge and worked tirelessly for the team.

 

This was a game of 2 halves as they say, we struggled to score in the first half and the 12 Gloster players ran hard and hit some shots. After the break though we were a different team and produced a 30-8 point 3rd quarter that any team in the country would have struggled to compete with.

 

Jas Long brought the ball up for 38 minutes of the game, scored 6 points and barely turned the ball over or made a bad pass, this was key to our offence and wasn't easy with Gloster playing full-court defense on her throughout. Offensively Gloster just had no answer for Freya, 31 points, countless rebounds and I rested her for the whole of the 4th quarter as the job was done! Rhiane, Hannah, Lakiesha and Ellie chipped in the rest of the points.

 

Defensively Rhiane was just epic, I think she may have actually scared a few players off the ball! I'm not sure how many steals Rhiane had but it was easily over 10 and she took 3 charges too, this set the tone and pretty soon we had Ellie, Hannah, Lakiesha, Matylda and Libby scrapping for the ball all over the court, this attitude from the team kick- started our offence, limited Gloster to just 14 points in the 2nd half and won us the game.

 

With some big games coming up and of course the 4 missing players to return this was ideal preparation and shows us that we are in good shape and ready to compete with anyone.

106 - 40 Win for Rockets Ladies!

Rockets Senior Ladies took a depleted squad of 7 to Wales due to an U18 clash with Gloucester and some injuries. It was a new hurdle to face for Coach Thorne and in his preparation and pre game talk with the team focused heavily on playing for 4 quarters and not in the moment. Having only taken 2 guards and 5 forwards it was important that U18 Denisa Molnar and Natacha Paris played with composure and smarts, any foul trouble could of had a major impact on the fixture. It was a tough task playing for Coach Thorne because he still wanted aggressive defense, ball pressure, wing and corner traps and the group did a fantastic job of trying to execute the teams tactics.

Before the game started, we were forced to sit three under 5s on the opposite side of the court without supervision which was a huge shock to us and the home team. The highlight of the day was how well behaved they were. Fantastic job Raphael, Josh and Gabriel. Their mums are super proud of you!

If anything this decision fired up our group which showed in the first quarter score line of 27-9. Cardiff came out in a 2-3 zone and this showed they were willing to let us shoot the ball. This is one of the squads strengths and Cat Lutz hit back to back 3s in the first few minutes soon followed by Denisa Molnar scoring a team high 11 points in the quarter.

The focus this game was to let the defense create the offense. We aimed to play solid defense, create deflections and steals, and create advantage scenarios on offense which we did to great success. Captain Steph Johnson scored 12 points and during the 2nd period did not miss a shot.

The game also allowed the group to practice a variety of defenses and to perfect their out of bounds plays in dead ball situations. Cat Lutz led the way with 42 points, 24 of which were from behind the three point line. Cat continues to play with an abundance of energy on both ends of the floor and on the sideline to help fire up her teammates during games.

Cardiff tried hard for the 40 minutes with veteran Joelle Moreno playing aggressive defense and some fantastic off the ball cuts to keep the Archers energy levels high. Having watched her play the previous week at the National Cup finals with there Division 1 team, we knew she was going to be a handful. Archers could possibly have used her in their away loss to Nottingham.

With 4 games left in the regular season the league is really taking shape. Bristol got a huge win over Oxford Women and this has meant the top 4 are super close with no team being in a position to lose games in the hunt for the league title and playoff spots.
  

Eloise Sneddon and her basketball journey so far - creating the MIXTAPE!!

Over the past 2 years Eloise has been making a mix tape to help her make the next step in her basketball career.

I made this highlight video to get interest from overseas coaches, in the hope that I will achieve my goal of getting an athletic scholarship to University! I have had ambitions of playing basketball overseas for a long time and, although I have had a lot of setbacks with two separate ACL surgeries (at aged 13 and 14), I can happily say I am fully recovered and have had no problems with my knees at all in the last 3 years!

I started playing basketball for a local league club in Salisbury at the age of 10. Then after a while I decided I wanted to take basketball more seriously, so I decided to join Solent Suns Basketball Club in Southampton to play National League. I played there for 5 years whilst studying my secondary education. By time I reached year 11, aged 16, I knew I needed to be getting more basketball training fitted into my everyday life if I wanted to improve as a player. Unfortunately, there were no colleges near me offering a full basketball program built around academics, so I investigated the colleges further away from my home that could give me this. When I heard about the Henley College and Reading Rockets it seemed like the perfect environment to develop both my basketball and academics.

I feel I have improved considerably through being part of this program and regardless of where I end up at university next year, I want to thank Rockets and Solent for all they have done to help me.

Home game vs Bristol Storm

Rockets bounce back with 28 pt victory

On Saturday the 25th of January, the women's senior team hosted 4th ranked Bristol Storm, finishing with a 86-58 victory. After a tough loss in the Semi Final against Leeds Carnegie last weekend, the Rockets were looking to regroup and also regain their momentum going into the second half of the season. 

Standing in their way was the Bristol Storm team who over the past few seasons have had a strong presence in the league, really raising their game and continuously finishing in the top 2 of there leagues, making semi finals and also the playoff final last year. With Gareth Till's team also just coming off a tough Semi Final loss, both squads were looking for a positive bounce back.

From the tip, the Rockets looked to be composed and in control with a strong full court defense that held Bristol to just 25 points in the first half.  At the start of the second half it was clear that Bristol wasn't ready to fold and they came out fighting, outscoring the Rockets 18-20 in the 3rd quarter. Leading scorers for Bristol were Alberqueque with 12, Fox 11, and Dyer 10.

The game provided Coach Thorne and Buckner the opportunity to challenge the groups defensive mentality in which they responded positively. The goal to improve on the previous game's result of 80-52 and with the same difference total but a wider spread of minutes was really pleasing for the coaching staff. Becky Lear and Cat Lutz led the team with 20pts each and Melissa Espin followed with 12.

The Rockets have a game next weekend against Cardiff Archers II in Cardiff at 6pm.  With the next game the team looks to continue their momentum and as a team keep focused towards their season's goals.

Quarter breakdown:

1st - 28 - 14
2nd - 21-11
3rd - 18-20
4th - 19-13
 

Motivation: Hard Work Beats Talent - Keven Durant

U18s Captain Freya Szmidt



Freya (No9) playing for England U18s this past summer

My name is Freya (aka Froggy) and I'm a 6"1 forward.  I've been playing basketball since I was about 10, when Steph Johnson was my first ever coach!!  I started playing to copy and follow in the footsteps of my older sister.  I represented England U18's at the European Championships and I plan to continue to play basketball for many years to come!



Rockets Henley AASE Girls Eloise Sneddon, Rhiane and Freya Szmidt, Denisa Molnar, Jasmine Long and Hannah Whitely. (Left to Right)

 

Trophy Semi Final

Rockets Ladies through to a National Semi

For the second time in three years the Rockets Senior ladies will take part in the Women’s National Trophy Semi Final when they will play against Northern counterparts Leeds Carnegie for a spot in the final.  The semi-final is scheduled for next Sunday(19^th January) tipping at 5 pm at Leeds Metropolitan University Arena.

The squad has had a successful start to the season with 8 wins and no defeats in league play and averaging 100.1 points a game whilst conceding 45.5 points per game. This fast paced play has crossed over into the National Cup where they beat a strong Solent team 65-55 and took a Sevenoaks Div 1 team to overtime. These have been great barometers for the girls and given them an insight into the level required in Div 1.

The Trophy provided the team the chance to play Cardiff Archers in their second  round game (after progressing to this stage as their opposition forfeited the first round) and an opportunity to spread the minutes throughout the group culminated in a 122- 42 point victory and a quarter final with Steve Nelson's Sussex Thunder.

Rockets’ Coach Josh Thorne said:  ‘We looked forward to playing against high scorer Francesca Morton and one of the best U16 juniors in the country, Kyla Nelson and this did not disappoint.  It was a high scoring affair with Cat Lutz hitting 3 three-pointers in consecutive offences forcing an early time out.  This ended up being Rockets day with a 99-59 final score and Cat Lutz scoring her Trophy game high 48 points whilst Morton dropped 32 and Nelson 16 respectively.

We have not come across many teams fielding U18 players this season and Steve Nelson is doing a fine job with many of his squad being in this category.’

Leeds have had a great start to their season having very similar results in the league with a 9 – nil record, scoring 97.5 points per game whilst conceding 49.6 points per game. On paper the two squads are very similar in results, in scoring and in defence and with both squads having multinational feels and high scoring Americans the semi-final has all the ingredients for a thriller.

Let's hope our Rockets Ladies can come back with a win!  Everyone at Rockets will be waiting eagerly to hear the result!


Reading Rockets Basketball

Here come the girls!

And so it seems that the Girls are well on their way!

It is so pleasing to visit JMA on a Monday night and see so many young girls and women taking seriously one of the biggest and best sports for them to be involved in...and competing too!
Many years of hard work, tears, cuts, bruises and headaches go into making a female athlete and so much of it behind closed doors too. Without the adulation, the arrogance, the media hype and the general self promotion that male dominated sports tend to get here in the UK the girls have been working hard behind closed doors to make a name for themselves....and its working.

There is so many more opportunities for young women and girls to compete in a positive environment without the cries of body image, self awareness and general female driven self loathing from ridiculous magazines and tv shows now...and long may it last. 

Form a club perspective we are so pleased to be witnessing a surge in young ladies taking psort as seriously as they want to and remain healthy, fit and focussed....and cool!

The drive to the creation of a fully functioning female led programme has been in the heart of the club for so long and it is starting to take shape. With the development of an academy programme at Henley and JMA and the vision of some great Coaches and support staff there is real enthusiasm along the way.

I wanted to post something on here and am happy to write more specific articles as and when appropriate but the first thing to say is how thrilled i am personally at the direction we are moving towards now and i look forward to watching the programme grow even more!

Matt J

Carla De Benavides Gabernet

We are going to be having a variety of bloggers. Hopefully all of the Seniors will post this season. We are going to start with one of the Rockets newest players, Spaniard, Carla De Benavides Gabernet, whose claim to fame is being friends with the sister of Portland Trailblazer, Victor Claver. She is Valencia through and through.

Natacha and Carla - Rockets Spanish Duo

My name is Carla, I'm 25 years old and I am from Spain. I am the youngest of a big family and am now living in London for 18 months. I started working as an au pair and now I am working as a teacher in a nursery. I like my job and really enjoy every day.

With my job the second thing that I love is basketball. I have played since I was 7 years old, but I've had a ball in my hands since the day I was born because my family all played basketball. For me basketball is more than a sport, it makes me feel happy and I can leave my troubles behind and play or watch basketball. Basketball gives me a lot of good things, for me and my friends. This year the opportunity to play for Reading Rockets came and it is amazing. Being able to meet new people and enjoy a new experience of basketball. Last year I was playing with a men's team in Slough and I am still playing with them and this is also enjoyable.

In my free time I like to spend time with friends, read, listen to music, shop and travel. Nowadays when I can I try to go to Spain to visit friends and family. I also arrange to meet them in other countries, this year my intention is to visit Paris and Amsterdam and if I have more time other countries.

Reading Rockets Ladies Basketball Program

Due to the club's website being hacked recently we have decided to blog our ladies team until we are able to get back onto the website.

Here is a short history of our team and how the club has grown. The ladies team has been a part of the club for around 10 years and has been in various forms including local league and national league versions. In the past 4 years the club has been involved in England Basketball's South, South East and Midlands South West National Leagues. 

In 2011-12 the club began the roller coaster ride of creating a sustainable, enjoyable, competitive environment which would develop junior and senior players as well as the club's young coaches Steph Johnson and Josh Thorne. In the first season the club had 7 senior members including ex Div 1 player Becky Lear and two U18 players. With a very multinational feel including Romanian, Welsh, Hungarian and Irish players, the team managed its best finish in National league coming 2nd, making the Semi Finals of the National Trophy and going into the playoffs. 
 

 

This was a really good achievement for a new group and was the beginning of some really exciting times for the ladies program. We were also able to run a local league squad which was fantastic to develop new players to the club.

In 2012 the club added to the roster U17 Horizons players Eloise Sneddon, Freya and Rhiane Szmidt and Romanian Jnr International, Denisa Molnar.  Returning to the court for the club was Steph Johnson, Commonwealth medalist Claire Maytham and ex junior and Welsh Senior Rachel Woods. Anca Massinova came on board after a handful of 30+ point games in local league and the addition of local league players allowed the club to now train with 10+ players and provided us with the opportunity to begin training much earlier in the summer and prepare for the season. Since day 1 we aimed to work towards being as close to a performance pathway as we could. This meant adding in nutrition support, strength and conditioning, pre, in and post season reviews and the addition of analysis to support the development of individuals and the team. 

 

The group took part in a much more competitive league in 2012 with Westside, Solent and Oxford providing great competition for us. This was what the group needed, an opportunity to play at the 2nd highest level in the country against other clubs who were striving for Division 1 opportunities. Each game was a dog fight and really highlighted our strengths and weaknesses and showed how even the smallest mistake can mean a loss.

One of the stand out moments was when Becky Lear was crowned Division 2 player of the year and despite suffering some tragic illness and injuries going into the playoffs. The group finished more determined than ever to build and move on going into the 2013-14 season. Freya Szmidt starting and scoring 39pts against Oaklands Academy and making the England U18 and GB U20 3V3 squad was an outstanding achievement. 

2013-14

We were able to make some big steps towards establishing the performance environment we have been striving for and one of the tallest groups we have every put together with 5 6ft + players.

The club welcomed Rick Buckner who would take the lead with the talented U18 squad and support Josh with the Senior squad.

Many of the core group returned including 3rd year players Rebecca Kingston, Becky Lear and Steph Johnson and 2nd year players Anca Massinova, Alex Stollery, Claire Maytham which which is a big reason for the recent success of the program. 

The club welcomed its first import players Cat Lutz who played at Iona College and welcomed Melissa England who hails from Southern Oregon University as the clubs first American ladies players. Spaniards Carla De Benavides Gabernet and Natacha Paris helped to round out the clubs multi-national roster.