Jets boost playoff hopes with win over rivals

Cheshire Jets took the head-to-head against local rivals Mersey Tigers, 84-79, in the BBL Championship, which may now set them on the right path to securing a play-off berth.

The game was tight throughout but a final quarter full of confusion, it didn’t go without debate.

Mersey Tigers were only seven players strong, and Cheshire were without Keith Page too.

The first quarter started off with some scruffy play between the two local rivals, significantly Sam Cricelli for Mersey picking up what was first believed to be four fouls, including one technical but was altered to a foul being given to the bench. The scores were tied 10-10 after the first five minutes but Tigers stretched out their lead with a 7-0 run. Points were then traded before Colin O’Reilly’s buzzer beater took the scores into the break 16-21

O’Reilly then followed up at the start of the second quarter with a three-pointer, before Myles Hesson and Martin Capers hit back with four points. Up stepped Adam Brown though for another three as coach Garbelotto called for a time-out. Back on court Kai Williams hit two, Hesson responded but so too did Williams with a three to tie the scores 27-27. Jets tried to extend the lead, but Tigers kept their claws in the game, with Bailey hitting a three, Kai missed one of his free throws and points were then traded as Capers tied the game again 36-36 going into the locker rooms at half-time.

After the break, the big swing came with the unfortunate injury to Bill Cole for Cheshire, which put him out for the remainder of the game. Both sides fought a tug of war for the lead, but Cheshire were to take control of the game that they would eventually finish out; not without a struggle though. Brown and Nathan Schall helped take the Jets’ lead to a game high of eight, but Tigers drew it back to just five points, 59-54, thanks mainly to the shooting of James Griffiths late in the quarter.

Coming into the final quarter, it was clear that Mersey were going to feel the pressure with such a short bench to start with, added with the foul count making uneasy reading. Credit where credit is due though, the never-say-die attitude of Jets’ neighbours saw every basket scored met with a response.

Brown hit a vital three to put the score 67-62 and give at that point some breathing space, but still Tigers came back, as Cricelli made it just a one point ball game at 71-70.

Shortly after, foul trouble was to make the game come alive.

Before reading on, the following is based on my following of the game – there were others at the game who did and did not have the same thoughts over this, but just go with it and hopefully we can make sense of the ensuing confusion at the end of the game.

Morakinyo Williams was believed to have picked up his fourth foul, followed by an unsportsman-like foul by Bailey, which sent Jets to the free throw line from this point onwards.

Cheshire posted four points to put the scores 78-72 before Schneck picked up his first foul of the night. Williams for Tigers converted both from the line to make it 78-74. Bailey picked up his fourth foul, Brown for Jets hit both of his for 80-74. O’Reilly’s second meant Williams again went to the line, but could only make one from two, 80-75. Williams was then seemingly fouled out of the game for a foul on Kai Williams, who himself made one from two, 81-75.

I hope you are still following at this point…

Hesson then hit a three-pointer. Which was the start of the confusion. We are at 81-78 now. Jets then call a time out with just 19.9secs left on the clock. Coming back on court the next bit of action sees Cricelli pick up his fifth foul, sending him out of the game. O’Reilly missed both free throws.

This would mean Tigers had just five players left to put out. One being Devan Bailey, on four fouls. Otten though picked up the next foul. O’Reilly made one from two, 82-78.

Bailey made one from two after Brown’s foul (82-79) but then picked up his fifth foul, sending him out from the game, leaving Tigers with just four players. Williams then came back on court for Tigers.

Brown converted but the scores were posted as 84-80.

The result seemingly stood, but it was confusion all round as no-one was entirely sure of what had happened, the scores, the fouls, a number of issues.

Discussions were had and after a few minutes the game score was altered by the match officials to 84-79, and the foul trouble issues were cleared up as it looked as though one foul given to Williams was in fact wrongly given.

The win was the all important thing for Cheshire, however Mersey pushed them all the way  for it, considering the loss of both Page and Cole, before and during the game. There was a lot to take from the game for both sides but for Cheshire it could be just the nucleus of a strong run into the play-offs.

Matt Schneck picked up a double-double of 22 points and 12 rebounds, and was almost joined by Kai Williams and Colin O’Reilly who were both one rebound each short. Adam Brown picked up his own double-double of 17 points and 10 assists.

None for Tigers, but they can come away knowing that they played out of their skins, Morakinyo Williams taking a game high 15 rebounds, ever present under the boards.

Cheshire Jets: 16, 36, 59, 84
Mersey Tigers: 21, 36, 54, 79

Jets: O’Reilly (22), Schneck (20), Brown (17)
Tigers: Hesson (23), Bailey (13), Griffiths/Otten (11)