Cheshire on the road again with another away double-header

This weekend sees Cheshire Phoenix board the bus once more and travel down south for league and trophy fixtures, first stop London Lions at Crystal Palace, on Friday night, before heading to the south coast for the BBL Trophy quarter-final battle against Worthing Thunder the following night.

It was clear disappointment for Cheshire last week, suffering their third defeat in a row, however when you look at the results, they now face first the only side they have beaten, twice, since Christmas.

Cheshire head coach Matt Lloyd feels his side’s ability to cope on the road has improved, and by the end of this weekend will have played 7 out of their last 9 games outside of the Northgate.

“The guys are coping OK with the road trips,” he said. “This weekend we are of course doing it all as one big trip rather than breaking it up, so that will benefit the guys.”

The shadow hanging over the team is whether they can weather the storm over player injuries with such a short roster. Gabe Haskins was missing from action last weekend, and could have been the difference against Plymouth.

However, Lloyd is happy to wait on the news for the all-clear before letting his guard back on court: “Gabe is getting over his muscle tear, we took it very easy with him last week and we will do the same this week and just keep testing the waters, basically, until we get the go ahead from the physio’s and, most of all, Gabe.”

Both victories against Lions have been closely fought affairs, with the most recent being a one point victory in the BBL Championship, the difference of a single basket could have now left Cheshire on a six game losing streak. The other win against London came in the BBL Trophy, where again, it was a tight affair, but came out 92-88 victors.

It is difficult to know what team will greet them at Crystal Palace, considering Lions’ poor record of just one win in nine (and even then that W came in the shape of an improved Mersey Tigers showing), but it is countered by just how close they have come to taking wins from teams higher up the league, noting the last gasp three pointer from Glasgow Rocks’ EJ Harrison needed last Sunday.

“We are approaching it in the same way we do every week,” Lloyd said about the preparations for Lions, giving them no preferential treatment, “through practising as best as we can and focusing on getting the W.”

Despite the struggle currently in the league, Cheshire Phoenix seem to be in the easier half of the draw in getting to Glasgow on March 9th for the BBL Trophy, and with the competition the first ever silverware won by the Chester/Cheshire franchise in the BBL over a decade ago, the fan-owned club could very well make it to the final in their first year under a new banner.

It’s a one off game and that is what is so special about it and why any team can come out on top. It would be special but we are not looking that far ahead yet, we are looking at Saturday first, then we look at the next game. There is no point looking in front of the next game you play, as they can beat you.

However, EBL Division One side, Worthing Thunder are stood in their way of a semi-final clash against Sheffield Sharks.

Thunder, who progressed to this stage, and in doing so, made the record books as being the first EBL side to defeat a current BBL side, Mersey Tigers, in the competition.

“Nobody expected us to get to the quarter-finals which is a great achievement for the players and the club in itself, especially as we are in a period and transition and development.” Thunder’s coach Daniel Hildreth commented in his preview ahead of Saturday’s clash.

“To get to the semifinals is very tough ask but one we will prepare for as we do all our games, to win. Bringing BBL basketball back to Worthing again this season means so much to the club and the fans and a win would be just icing on the cake.”

Hildreth was a part of the Worthing Thunder side in the BBL during 2010, facing Cheshire Jets as they were previously know, and remembers what it was like to go up against some of the faces that will grace the court at Worthing Leisure Centre on Saturday.

“I personally have played against a few of their players Shawn Myers, Chez Marks and Jerome Gumbs. They are great veterans of the game with vast experience,” he said. “We do have game tape of some of their games and unsurprisingly they play a lot of zone as five guys play a lot of minutes.”