Love lands Coach of the Month award

Plymouth Raiders head coach Gavin Love has landed the Molten BBL Coach Of The Month Award for December.

The play-caller led his team to four victories from five games during the period and ensured Raiders punched their ticket for the BBL Cup Final to be held at the National Indoor Arena in Birmingham on Sunday 15th January.

The month began with the Raiders giving their BBL Championship title bid a real shot in the arm with a superb 84-62 home success against high-flying hopefuls Jelson Homes DMU Leicester Riders.

It was then time for the all important two-legged BBL Cup semi-final against Worcester Wolves and in the first game, Love and his players produced one of the best performances seen anywhere in the BBL all season.

Raiders were simply unstoppable as they trashed Wolves 111-83 on the road to put one foot firmly into the Final.

While they lost 24 hours later in the second leg at the Pavilions as a hurt Worcester team came out gunning for revenge and seeking to restore some pride, it made little difference to the hosts who set up a showpiece silverware showdown with Newcastle Eagles.

Love has really had his team firing on all cylinders and looking like contenders for trophies on all fronts of late.

Jeremy Bell and James Jones have stood out in the backcourt while the trio of Anthony Rowe, Lehmon Colbert and Paul Williams have been a real handful in the paint.

Continuing their good work, Raiders wrapped up a fine month with two comprehensive home victories in the BBL Championship against Glasgow Rocks and Mersey Tigers.

While they still have games in hand to win, a fine December his has put Raiders into an excellent position in the league and therefore it’s hardly surprising Coach Love has been crowned as Molten BBL Coach Of The Month For December.