Surrey Scorchers produced one of the comebacks of the season, as they overturned a 14 point deficit to win the game with just 4 seconds remaining in the match.
This was the third meeting in a row between Scorchers and Rocks as they had met the previous weekend in the BBL Cup Semi-final, on that occasion Glasgow ran out winners over the two legs. As the game started, it appeared that Scorchers were suffering a hangover from that cup defeat, as Rocks raced into a 7-0 lead. Surrey eventually got on the scoreboard when Will Neighbour found a 2, which was followed up by a couple of 2s from Chaz Rollins and Quincy Taylor. However, with every 2 Surrey got, it appeared Glasgow would double it, and with 3 minutes left in the quarter, they had a 10 point advantage as the scores read 19-9. A double-double from Rollins and a 2 from Jay Bowie got Scorchers fighting again before a scoring run of 9-2 saw Glasgow end the quarter 28-15 in front.
Scorchers started the second quarter strongly as they looked to get back into the game in front of a very supportive home crowd. Neighbour got proceedings underway going 2/2 on a free-throw as Surrey went on a 10-2 run, capped off when Neighbour found a 3. This left Scorchers just 4 points behind with over half of the quarter remaining. However, Glasgow regained their composure and went on a scoring run themselves, as they took an 11-point lead before both Neighbour and Tayo Ogedengbe went 2/2 from free-throws to stop the rot. The teams then shared a couple of points between them, before Neighbour hit a 3 to end the quarter. However, at half-time Glasgow were 46-36 in front.
Speaking after the game Scorchers, captain Tayo said ‘Our attitude is never to give up’, and the team were certainly out to prove that. Taylor started the quarter with a 3 before Rollins hit a 2 as Surrey were trying to find a way back into the match. Tayo himself, then found a 3, before Glasgow went a scoring run. The team hit back, and when Taylor scored a double-double with 2 minutes remaining in the half Scorchers were back within 10. However, Glasgow scored a couple more points as they ended the half leading 70-59.
Glasgow had been in front for almost the entire match and going into the final quarter with an 11-point lead, the game appeared to be nearly over, as such, no one could have predicted what was to follow. Rocks got the quarter underway with a 2, before Albert Margai produced a great bit of skill and score of 2 of his own. A 2 from Kalil Irvin brought Surrey back to within 9, but with 6 minutes left in the quarter, it looked to be too little too late. However, Jay Bowie wasn’t finished with the match, as first, he scored a 2, before he hit a great 3, to bring the scores to just 4. The crowd then roared into life as Taylor found a 2, as they knew their team was on the verge of producing one of the comebacks of the season. With 2 minutes remaining there was just 2 in it and while both teams shared a couple of points between them, Glasgow were 3 ahead with just 50 seconds to go. However, Scorchers weren’t finished and backed by enormous crowd support; Taylor found a 2 to put Surrey within touching distance. The time ticked on, and then the moment of magic happened, Coach Creon called timeout with 8 seconds left, Scorchers had the ball but knew they had to do something with it, the plan was simple, give it to Taylor. Straight from the restart, Taylor was found and with just 4 seconds to go in the match, he raced through and scored a 2 while getting fouled in the process. He then followed up the foul by scoring from the free-throw, the crowd went wild. Scorchers had won with virtually the last throw of the game. It was the only time in the entire match that they had been in front. Final Score, Scorchers 77-75 Glasgow Rocks.
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