Cheshire Jets John Lavery looks at the Lions clash: “Fate is in our own hands”

Following a hard fought 85-78 loss on the road to the Jelson Homes DMU Leicester Riders, you could forgive Jets coach John Lavery, for being downhearted after his side had carried a slim lead over the Riders all the way to the final quarter before falling in the final 10 minutes. But far from focusing on the loss, Coach Lavery was looking ahead:

(On the loss to the Riders) “It’s disappointing. We’ve got a really short rotation so the guys out there can give me what they can give me (but) we’ve got four games left: Milton Keynes, Glasgow and we’ve got Sheffield, as well as Newcastle, so we’ve got everything to play for,”

“We’re in eighth at the moment so we’ve got everything to play for.”

The match-up between the eighth placed Jets and the ninth place Milton Keynes Lions is all the more vital for both sides with only two points separating the teams (MK have played one game more) and the season series currently tied at 1-1 with the Lions having won the first encounter 86-75 and the Jets victorious 85-76. Whether Lavery cares to admit it or not, the winner of the meeting on Friday 13th will almost certainly be headed to the post-season.

“Whoever wins takes the head-to-head which is a huge game. But all our next four games are huge for us. We’ve got to pick up some W’s to make sure we make the play-offs,” said Lavery.

“Fate is in our own hands.”