JETS warmed up for this weekend's big BBL tip-off where they left off last season, with victory over old rivals Sheffield, on Friday.
Forward Todd Cauthorn seemed to enjoy taking on his former Sheffield teammates and was in fine form while Jets' other summer arrivals Shawn Myers and Sha Holloway both impressed.
Although the game was played at the Concord Leisure Centre rather than Sharks' city centre venues at Ponds Forge or Sheffield Arena, a large crowd turned out to watch the country's top two teams.
Jets led from tip to buzzer and Cauthorn soon showed Sharks what they were missing as he landed a long three-pointer. Sheffield's new point guard Robert Yanders, snapped up from South West Missouri as a replacement for Liegebound Jeff Monaco, was at the heart of most of the home side's attacks but many of his team-mates looked second best.
Despite Calvin Davis picking up three fouls in the first quarter, Jets went 28-23 up, with the recently acquired trio of Cauthorn, Myers and Holloway dominating the scoring.
Sharks' long range efforts kept them within touching distance in the second as
Jerry Williams bagged a brace of three-pointers while Ian McKinney and Nate Reinking also netted from downtown but Jets led 53-49 at half-time.
Holloway showed his outside shooting ability in the third with Jets 79-74 up at three-quarter time and Davis put his early foul trouble woes behind him in the final period with some terrific defensive rebounding as accuracy from the free throw line allowed the visitors to increase their advantage.
Jets coach Robbie Peers said: 'I thought we were excellent and we came together as a team unit. Sheffield are always the benchmark and I'll be delighted if we finish above them.'
Jets' scorers: Holloway (27); Cauthorn & Myers (both 22); Davis (14); McCord (12); Cameron (11).
* Jets start their campaign with a trip to Newcastle Eagles on Friday (7.30pm) before hosting Birmingham Bullets at the Northgate Arena on Sunday (5.30pm).
