THE Jets maintained their two-point lead at the top of the BBL table with a victory on Sunday that was a lot tougher than the scoreline suggests.
With second-placed Newcastle winning three times in a week, it was crucial Jets followed up Thursday's 96-85 success in Sheffield with another victory.
Although this eventually proved to be a blow-out, it was only in the final quarter that a tired Raiders side faded after pushing their hosts close for three quarters of the match.
Coach Paul Smith said: 'With Plymouth playing just 24 hours earlier and not having great depth in their squad, I asked my players to make sure it was an up-tempo game and, for once, one of my plans worked. I told them not to panic and just keep on doing the right things.
'Although Raiders were three up before Gary Stronach's technical foul in the second quarter and went six down after it, I don't think that was the turning point and the scoring was just coincidental. Technicals on coaches are funny. They can put pressure on referees for future calls but it seems that English coaches pick them up a lot easier than the Americans.'
Skill-wise, this might not have been the best game this season but for long periods it was certainly one of the most engrossing.
Baskets from Gavin Love and DeAntoine Beasley saw Raid-ers go 21-18 in front at the end of the first quarter.
Jets trailed by as many as six points (24-30) in the second.
There were a few anxious moments as, during an acrobatic sequence, two of the cheerleaders managed to drop one of their team-mates, sending her crashing head-first towards the floor.
Fortunately, like Jets, she was able to make a full recovery and The Comets continued with even more elaborate displays.
Jets led 43-40 at the interval but a dogged Plymouth stayed close until late in the third quarter, when DJ Harrison showed athleticism to score at full stretch and Jets went into the final period up 61-55.
A sign that the visitors were starting to lose their sharpness came when Trey Moore stole the ball from Love before charging down-court to net. And from then on, Jets finally took control.
Jets' scorers: Davis (26); Moore (25); Myers (16); Harrison (15); Martin (4); Singleton (3); Herriman (2).
