Rebels Fight Back but Fall Short Against Worthing in BCB Trophy 

The Essex Rebels suffered an 86-73 defeat to Worthing Thunder in the BCB Trophy, despite a spirited second-half fightback that saw the home side erase a 25-point deficit and move within six points of their opponents. 

The Rebels opened the scoring in the first quarter courtesy of a successful lay-up from Aliou Cisse. However, the visitors made a quick response with Hernadez immediately equalling the scoreline.  

Thunder quickly took control of the content, taking an 8-2 lead in the first two minutes. Despite the Rebels’ efforts to stay within touching distance, the visitors maintained their control before Tyreese Hudson provided a late spark with an and-one finish to close the quarter. Nevertheless, Essex trailed 27-16 heading into the second quarter. 

Thunder continued their flying start after the break, opening with a personal foul committed by Reyad West on Justin Hopkins, with him scoring his first free throw leaving the Rebels with a 12-point deficit.  This marked just the start of Thunder’s electric performance, leaving the Rebels with a 25-point deficit with less than 4 minutes left on the clock.  

However, a 3-point jump shot made by McKew became the defining factor for the remainder of the second quarter. This sparked a sharp shift in Rebels’ momentum with the baskets flowing as Rebels found their rhythm, seeing a 3-point jump shot scored by Ethan Conway on his competitive debut for the Rebels and lay-ups made by his fellow debutants Tre Baumgardner and Aliou Cisse. 

Rebels’ new-found flow ended the second quarter with an eight-point gap with Worthing taking a close 44-36 point lead.  

After half-time, Hopkins tipped off Thunder’s lead after a 2-point lay-up within seconds of the quarter beginning. The third quarter continued with a close fight between the two sides with consistent lay-ups made on either ends of the court. A 3-point jump shot made by Reyad West end the quarter with the Rebels closest gap since the game beginning, with 63-55 scoreline leading to the visitors.  

With just an 8-point deficit, Rebels started the quarter in fighting spirits with narrow misses from Conway, Cisse and Baumgardner leaving the Rebels with a tough battle to contend with.  

It was Thunder who opened the scoring in the final quarter as a result of a 2-point jump shot made by Hernadez. This was followed by Hopkins making both of his free throws after a personal foul was committed by Johnson-Thompson, strengthening Worthing’s lead to 69-55. Following a further free throw made by Hopkins, Baumgardner opened Rebels’ scoring of the quarter. Baumgardner’s lay-up sparked momentum in the Rebels as Conway made a 3-point jump shot narrowing the gap to just a 10-point deficit.  

With 5 minutes left on the clock, the Rebels reduced their deficit to just 6 with a lay-up from Baumgardner leaving the score at 73-63.  

However, it did not take Thunder long to extend their lead to a more comfortable position leaving an 84-71 scoreline with less than a minute on the clock.  

The final shot of the game came from Baumgardner, but his effort was not enough to give Rebels the win, ending the game 86-73 to the visitors.  

The Rebels will be back at the Essex Sport Arena on 26 September as they take on the Reading Rockets at home in their final BCB Trophy Group stage game at home at 6:30pm. This game will be part of a double header where fans will get the chance to have a first look at the re-established NBL D3 team live in action (4pm tip-off).

By Millie Winslett