Travis’ tally not enough to subdue magical Myers and Phoenix
Cheshire Phoenix kept their faint hopes of making the BBL play-offs alive for a little while longer, running out 104-100 victors over Surrey Heat, despite Travis Holmes’ huge haul for the visitors of 44 points at Northgate Arena.
Starting fives
Cheshire Phoenix: Bland, Gumbs, Haskins, Marks, Myers
Surrey Heat: Cricelli, F. Holmes, T. Holmes, Margai, Simek
It wasn’t the best of starts for the home side, as Surrey stretched out an early 4-9 lead, before Gabe Haskins and Chez Marks found their aim, a significant improvement it seemed from the last outing on the Northgate court. Halfway through the first quarter, a mixture of picking up on the Heat’s errors and sharp shooting, helped establish a five point lead for the Phoenix that they maintained until the final play of the period when Travis Holmes dictated and drove inside to bring the gap down to just three points, 26-23.
Holmes again opened the scoring for the second stanza, and although the Heat tied matters up at 30-30 in double quick fashion thanks to Caylin Raftopoulos’ efforts outside the arc, Stuart Thomson hit right back with one of his own. Travis and Thomson traded baskets until a 14-2 run by Phoenix, created with increased intensity, drive and determination saw Heat facing up to 13 point deficit.
As the quarter went on, Surrey tried to reduced the gap, and despite misses in this quarter from the free throw line by Travis Holmes (the only shots from the line he missed all game), Creon Raftopoulos’ team were able to go into the locker room down only by single digits, 55-46.
Coming out following the break, and Phoenix fans could have been forgiven for thinking that St. Patrick was rubbing off on them as they once again extended the lead out once more to 12 points clear after Chez Marks was able to regain a lost possession and posted up a big three-pointer, but again, Travis Holmes was not about to let things come to an end earlier than expected.
Peter Simek’s three-point play and Sam Cricelli, followed by two from the line for Holmes eradicated the lead to just five. However, Phoenix showed their resolve and built up that lead even further again, this time to 13, thanks to an 8-0 run, helped by a technical foul on Cricelli sending Marks to the line and duly obliging.
However this Surrey side, who had to swallow the bitter pill of losing to league leaders Leicester by three points on Saturday night, were not out just yet, and after another technical given to the Heat bench, Holmes caught fire, alongside Caylin finding another two huge three pointers, it was ‘blink and you miss it’ as Holmes tied the game, and Albert Margai grabbed the lead back at 76-78. Marks’ bucket at the end of the quarter meant there was ten minutes of uncertainty ahead, tying the scores at 78-78.
It was all set up for another thrilling finish at the Northgate, and what better way to begin with it raining threes, as Travis took on Chez, but there was to be only one winner in this side battle, and as Holmes extended Surrey’s lead out to three, the game was being taken to Phoenix, who responded with the utmost focus in a game that could have all but put them out of the play-off race, as they regained control and made a lead of their own thanks to seven point run.
Simek stepped up, before Travis took to the stage and hit his third three of the quarter, and the edge by one, responded to by Jerome Gumbs, who throughout the game had looked like he’d shaken off any signs of previous illness, before again Travis planted another from distance and a two point lead.
Haskins soon tied the game, before Cheshire Phoenix captain made it count when it mattered most with a three pointer to lead 101-98 with under 90 seconds left on the clock. Margai shortly after made 2 from 2 from the line, but an Alif Bland stamped his authority all over the game with a huge dunk.
Shawn Myers though rounded everything off, going to the line and converting one from two to make it 104-100 after Julius Joseph committed a foul late on.
Myers, although little mentioned above, was key to Cheshire’s performance on the night, despite Chez Marks finding his shooting boots since Friday’s disappointing loss to Sheffield Sharks. He went about his work quietly, but efficiently, claiming yet another double-double of 21 points and 16 rebounds.
The way in which Myers is performing week-on-week, there is no question over his attitude, commitment and overall presence on court – all this considered that when Cheshire Jets/Cheshire Phoenix began this season, the 42-year-old’s role was primarily seen as coming off the bench to assist in giving others rest time; he has more than stood up to the challenges of this season, his value on court more like he was 24, not 42.
The question is, how will Surrey respond when Cheshire travel down on Friday night to finish off the season series between the pair, and can Cheshire concentrate on their own business and forget what Sheffield do Wednesday and also Friday?
Play of the game
During Cheshire’s fantastic second quarter run, Chez Marks created the fast break, cross court pass to Chris Pearce, providing the assist to Jerome Gumbs in a move that epitomised the whole of that run. Clinical, well-worked, and effective.
Game MVP
This isn’t biased in any way shape or form, and yes, Travis Holmes bagged a host of points and congratulations, however he couldn’t win it alone and without him tonight, with Cheshire shutting the rest of Surrey down, thanks to one individual, Shawn Myers, for every reason above. It would have been over a lot sooner though had Travis Holmes not been playing, rest assured.
Next up
The two sides face each other this coming Friday night (22nd March) at Surrey Sports Park, tip-off 7:30pm.
(Image: Pete Sheffield – psd-images.co.uk)
