Cheshire Phoenix will have to wait until November at the earliest to break their home hoodoo as a first-quarter horror show saw them fall to a bitterly disappointing 87-72 loss to London Lions.

Following defeats to Manchester Giants and Glasgow Rocks in their opening two home games at their new Cheshire Oaks Arena home in Ellesmere Port, the Nix were hopeful of snapping that run against a Lions side without injured former Cheshire star Demond Watt and who had endured a mixed start to the BBL season.

But John Lavery's men, who handed a debut to new signing Danny Huffor off the bench, began the contest in the worst possible way and lacked intensity at both ends of the court. Too many easy baskets were gifted to the Lions who ended the first quarter 25-17 to the good having gone on a 12-0 run at one stage.

The start of the second didn't offer up too much cheer and the Lions extended their advantage to a game-high 21 points at 38-17. But the Nix dug deep and found their rhythm and intensity and went on a superb run of 14 unanswered points to trim the London advantage to seven. They continued to stay the pace with the visitors and were just five points off the pace at 48-43 by the time the half-time buzzer sounded.

New Cheshire Phoenix signing Danny Huffor
New Cheshire Phoenix signing Danny Huffor

After the break a Jordan Williams three brought them to within two points of Nigel Lloyd's London side and the home faithful sensed that a maiden win at their new arena may be in the offing. But having expended so much effort getting themselves back into the contest, the Nix just couldn't maintain the intensity to take the driving seat and were punished by some clinical shooting from beyond the arc from Jamal Williams and the excellent Jaron Lane.

The Nix continued to rally but a final quarter that saw them register just nine points to London's 17 sealed a comfortable success for the visitors, who were paced by Lane's 19 points.

Jordan Williams led Cheshire's scorers with 17 but it was Jeff Dirkin off the bench who impressed the most, hitting 12 points in 18 minutes, shooting five from eight from the field and one three. The Rollins College graduate also pulled in four boards.

It was another Jekyll and Hyde performance from the Nix, now 3-4 in the league, who are next in action on Friday at struggling Sheffield Sharks (7.30pm). They are back at the Cheshire Oaks Arena on Sunday, November 8 (5.30pm) for the visit of Leeds Force in the BBL.

Cheshire scorers: Jordan Williams 17pts, Kinu Rochford 12 pts, Jeff Dirkin 12pts, Akeem Ellis 10pts, David Aliu 9pts, Sean McGonagill 8pts, Danny Huffor 4pts