Basketball: Dejected Cheshire Jets skipper James Hamilton wanted to win BBL Cup for the fans

Jan 21 2010 by Alec Doyle, Chester Chronicle

JAMES Hamilton has paid tribute to the hundreds of Cheshire Jets fans who roared the team to the brink of BBL Cup final glory, writes Alec Doyle.

Jets mounted a stirring late fightback against Sheffield Sharks on Sunday but fell agonisingly short, losing 89-86 in front of a crowd of 6,500 at Birmingham’s National Indoor Arena.

Hamilton, Jets’ joint captain, was in typically inspirational form and carried off the coveted Most Valuable Player award – but lifting the BBL Cup itself was all he was interested in.

“The award doesn’t really matter,” said the Michigan- born veteran, who celebrates his 38th birthday this Sunday.

“It was shocking to even get the award on the losing team. I haven’t heard of that happening very many times but it means nothing in comparison to the bigger picture.”

The long-serving Hamilton spearheaded a pulsating fourth-quarter revival for Jets, who outscored the Sharks 38-25 in the final 10 minutes.

But Paul Smith’s side ultimately paid the price for trailing the Sharks in the first three periods – and Hamilton felt for the fans.

He said: “I’m upset. I wanted to win the trophy so I could hold it up for the fans, but unfortunately that didn’t happen. That’s basketball, but I appreciate all the fans coming out.”

Jets head coach Smith said Sunday’s final was the most disappointing game of his basketball career – and Hamilton was visibly affected by the contest after the final buzzer had sounded.

“I’m disappointed because I think we made a couple of mistakes in the last minute that cost us the game, I think we should have won,” he said.

“We did different things that we would not characteristically do. I don’t know what possessed us to do it, but it cost us the game.”

Jets return to league action with a derby at Everton Tigers on Friday (7.30pm) and a Northgate Arena clash with Guildford Heat on Sunday (5.30pm).