Jeff Dirkin is confident this weekend’s BBL clash with Leeds Force can finally bring about the first home success for Cheshire Phoenix.

The Nix have lost all three of their games at their new Cheshire Oaks Arena home so far this season, with all three of their league successes coming on the road.

Cheshire are currently on a four-game losing streak and face a Leeds side who are on an identical run. But Dirkin, who has been impressive in recent weeks, believes that the tide can turn when they welcome the struggling Force on Sunday (5.30pm).

“This Sunday is a definite must-win game for us,” said 24-year-old Dirkin, who joined the club in the summer straight out of NCAA Division II school Rollins College in Florida.

“We’re on a bad run but we felt that we could have taken the win at Sheffield on Friday but we just didn’t shoot the ball well enough.

“Leeds is a game that we can win and we’ll be giving it our all to make sure that we get that first home win, it’s really important for us all.

“We played OK at Sheffield and if we can take forward the positives from that game into this weekend then we can hopefully enjoy a better November than we did October.”

After a slow start to life with the Nix, Dirkin has become a key cog in head coach John Lavery’s squad, with the 6ft 8ins forward proving a valuable asset at both ends of the court.

Room for improvement

Dirkin, who hails from Illinois but whose father originates from Marple in Cheshire, is now aiming to build on his recent good form and make more appearances in the starting five.

“I feel like I have been playing quite well recently, but I always challenge myself to do better,” said Dirkin.

“I was in the starting five against Sheffield because David [Aliu] was injured and I just wanted to try and make the most of my opportunity. I was a little disappointed with myself but Coach [Lavery] said he was pleased and told me to keep doing what I’m doing.

“It’s taken me a little while to adjust to the league over here as it is a lot quicker and it’s very competitive. Also, there is only a 24-second shot clock and I’ve been used to a 35-second shot clock in college for so long.”

Having made the move from the Sunshine State to Ellesmere Port during the summer, Dirkin says he has been blown away by the support received by the squad by Nix fans at their new home.

The opening three home games for the Nix have seen bumper attendances at their 1,400 seater arena, something Dirkin hopes will continue to be the case.

“The fans have been awesome for us and they have been turning out in great numbers and really making a lot of noise,” said Dirkin.

“Basketball seems like it is growing in this country and people come up and say how much they have enjoyed it after games, saying they had never been before but would be coming back. Stuff like that is a real boost for us.”