BBL Trophy: Mersey Tigers 62 Cheshire Jets 74

Oct 23 2011 by Alec Doyle, Chester Chronicle

VICTORY  was finally tasted by the Cheshire Jets on the road at the Mersey Tigers' new home at Knowsley Leisure Centre in the final BBL Trophy game.

Despite neither team being able to qualify from the group stage, there was still local pride on the line as the Jets attempted to bloody the nose of their near rival and get their season on-track.

And thanks to the powerful Matt Schneck (21pts) they gained a measure of revenge on Tony Garbelotto's side for their defeat at the Northgate Arena a fortnight ago.

Adam Brown (16) and Colin O'Reilly (13) also chipped in with impressive hauls as a to-and-fro game eventually went in favour of John Lavery's men.

Helsby's Devan Bailey continued to impress scoring 12 points for the Tigers and David Aliu delivered 19 with a typically reliable performance, but the Tigers didn't have enough on this occasion.

The game saw both sides trading baskets in the early exchanges but it was the Jets who held the lead at the opening period as they took a five point advantage into the second quarter leading 13-18.

In the second quarter however, it was the Tigers who enjoyed the better of the period as they outscored the Jets 19-16 to trim the deficit to just two points at 32-34 as the sides headed into the locker rooms at the half.

In the second half both sides traded baskets in the early going of the third period, but the Jets broke the game open as they stepped up their intensity at both ends of the floor and they ended the quarter well to open up a 14 point lead at 46-60 heading into the final stanza.

In the final period the Tigers tried valiantly to get themselves back into the game but could not close the gap significantly enough to trouble the Jets as the visitors ran out comfortable winners.