Jets reach post-season in style

Cheshire Jets qualified for the BBL Championship Play-Offs with a dazzling display at home to Glasgow Rocks.

Despite a 25-point lead towards the end of the game, the score finished up 80-68, as the younger Jets players were given an opportunity late on, but were punished by the more experienced Rocks side that remained on court.

Initially, the game got off to a slow scrappy start with baskets traded until Colin O’Reilly stepped up with a three pointer to give Cheshire the edge 9-8. Adam Brown then extended the lead before Mychal Green and ex-Jet Gareth Murray hit back with points of their own.

Bill Cole posted a big three from which Cheshire were never to look back from. Play of the quarter, and possibly the season for the Jets saw Adam Brown save the ball from leaving the court, played over to Colin O’Reilly to sink his second three, before following it up with another moments later to put the scores 20-12. EJ Harrison responded with one of his own, whilst Green ended the quarter to bring the scores down to just 20-17.

Brown began the second quarter with a fadeaway with Andrew Wedemire pegging it back. Then O’Reilly brought out his heat seeking missiles, as another two back-to-back threes were made for the Irishman. Momentum clearly in the favour of the home team, Williams slammed another two points to open up a double digit lead. Wedemire, this time from the charity strip took it back to 30-21. However, once again, O’Reilly was on hand with another two points.

Sterling Davis made his first points of the night from the free throw line, but overall had a bad night’s shooting from open play (11% – 1/9), to make it worse, Nathan Schall then made it count by hitting his only shot of the game – and it was for a maximum three points, 35-23.

Danny Huffor bit back, before Cole and O’Reilly pushed out the lead once more. Harrison missed one from two of his free throws, and then Brown and Huffor traded baskets.

Another moment to savour saw a lovely low pass to the baseline from O’Reilly to Matt Schneck who was fouled on the way to the basket, and rounded up a three point play by converting his free throw. Wedemire posted another two points, as Brown got two from the line, but Green was able to keep the difference to just 14 points going into half-time, 46-32.

As an aside (and not usually part of my report) the half-time primary school Hoops4Health game saw my old primary school, Overleigh St. Mary’s, take the win that means they will represent in Birmingham for Cheshire Jets in the finals stage. As an alumni of the school, I’m extremely proud of them and wish them all the best, including my former PE teacher who got me into basketball and will no doubt get her team prepared in the best way possible for the biggest games of their young lives so far. A lot is said about the development of (more often than not the “lack” of) talent at a young age. My old primary school was definitely not of that ilk and tonight proved after over 12 years since being there, the passion is still there.

Back to the game…

Despite Glasgow having already booked their place in the play-offs, they were not to be defeated so easily. A 7-0 run for the visitors saw the deficit reduced, but O’Reilly was ever present and put a stop to it with another three pointer and the shift again saw Williams follow up with one of his own.

At this point Cheshire were in full control and began to assert themselves with aplomb. Glasgow didn’t seem to have much in the tank, and knowing a victory secured a play-off place, the intensity of the Jets was maintained. The lead continued to extend as the home side were always able to hit a shot more than Rocks. Brown finishing off the scores at the end of the third quarter, 67-48.

Going into the final stanza, the same start for the Rocks saw them eat five points into the Jets through Harrison and Huffor, but to no avail as four points from Schneck and Williams was accompanied by a huge three from Brown to put the score at 74-53. Huffor’s efforts were again made to count for nothing as Cole responded, before Captain Fantastic Colin O’Reilly hit the three that broke the 30-point barrier for him on the night. Jets’ final point of the game came from Adam Brown, who had the ignominy of missing one of his two free throws that meant the Jets came out with 4/5 from the free throw line in the game as a whole – not that probably any of the home fans really cared! The lead was 25 points (80-55), and the play-offs were in touching distance.

With the time ticking away on the clock, Green, Huffor, and Murray all hit points to take it to  80-61, a timeout from the Jets and quite a big enough gap saw both sides make changes which led to some of the younger and more inexperienced players see some time on court.

The game eventually came to a close as Rocks posted another 7 points, through Jonny Bunyan, Greg Richards and finally Deaundre Cranston, to bring the final score to 80-68.

A big team performance from Cheshire allowed them to celebrate securing a BBL Championship Play-Off spot. 52% of 3 point shots were made for the Jets compared to the 22% from Rocks – on that alone, thanks mostly to the efforts of O’Reilly, there was only going to be one winner at the Northgate, who took the series this year against Glasgow 3-0.

Cheshire Jets: 20, 46, 57, 80
Glasgow Rocks: 17, 32, 48, 68

Jets: O’Reilly (31), Brown (18), Schneck (11)
Rocks: Harrison (15), Cranston/Green/Huffor (10), Wedemire (8)