ROB Gerrard scored a club record 64 points as the Basingstoke Blizzards basketball team secured their place in the Karl Taylor Cup third round with a 105-91 victory over the visiting Hungerford Dogs.

In the previous round, the Dogs had knocked out Basingstoke’s second team, the Bobcats, and having seen that game, Blizzards coach Marcel Mavronicholas was aware their opponents would be pressing full court from the tip-off.

However, Gerrard soon got into a groove and scored 10 points as the home side led 14-2.

The advantage was extended to 22-6 thanks to Adam Paddon, and by the end of the first quarter the score was 27-12.

The second session saw Hungerford claw their way back into the contest, before some nice breakaway baskets from Gerrard and Tom Mavronicholas moved the score to 47-34 at half-time.

After the break, the starting five of Gerrard, Paddon, Joey Haynes, Tom Fulford and Mavronicholas helped extend the lead to 20 points.

Then, in the space of two minutes, the visitors hit 12 unanswered points to make it 58-50.

This sprung the home side into action and an avalanche of points followed to take the score to 70-55.

Not for the first time in the contest, Hungerford found their bite and with seven minutes left, the home side’s lead was cut to three points.

However, fitness was to tell and Gerrard hit 14 unanswered points on his way to a new club record of 64 points to wrap up the cup tie.

The Blizzards are back in action on Tuesday, January 20, against Farnborough Phantoms at Queen Mary’s College (tip-off 8.25pm). Before this, the Bobcats will be looking to avenge their cup loss against Hungerford and claim the outright lead in Wessex League Division Two, when the sides meet at QMC on Thursday, January 15, (tip-off 8.25pm).

Admission to both games is free.

Scoring: Gerrard 64pts, Mavronicholas 22, Paddon 10, Haynes 4, Fulford 3, Isaac 2.