Cheshire hoping to build on Mersey win

Cheshire Jets will be looking to build on last weekend’s win over Mersey Tigers and push towards the play-offs, when they play MK Lions on Sunday.

It was only their fourth win of the season, but it keeps the Jets’ post-season hopes well and truly alive, and a win over the sixth placed Lions could heat up the play-off chase.

The Lions are still licking their wounds from last weekend’s heart-breaking overtime loss against Plymouth in the BBL Trophy semi-finals.

Cheshire Head Coach John Lavery said: “They are a strong, well organised team, who have two powerful inside presence in Howard Crawford and Daniel Northern.

“Both Crawford and Northern are big for MK at both ends of the floor. Not forgetting the influential [Demarius] Bolds who can score in many ways, and is leading the league scoring at the moment.

“Last time we played them at the Northgate both Crawford and Northern dominated inside and really hurt us. On that day we were without the influential presence of Matt Schneck inside. So hopefully come Sunday we can contain the inside threat from MK. We also have to try and contain Bolds as best as possible.”

The Lions are at the half way mark of their league season, and are three wins ahead of the Jets in the league ladder.

Coach Mike New said: “Jets are a team that are thirsty to win at any cost and so we must continue to play good ball and be ready from the start.

“The first time that we played them they didn’t have Schneck, I’m not sure how different they will play but he will impact their rebounding ability and their ability to score around the basket.”