JETS threw away an 18-point lead in their big derby on Merseyside on Friday.
Tigers won the battle of the BBL’s north-west clubs thanks to 17 points from Olu Babalola and 15 from Jerome Gumbs.
There was nothing between the teams in the first quarter as the lead changed hands nine times. Jets seized the initiative with a 5-0 run to close the period, which included three Steven Gayle free throws to give the visitors an 15-11 advantage.
Paul Peterson stretched the Jets lead to 18-11 at the start of the second but it inspired a 15-6 run by Tigers to level the match at 26-26 on James Jones’ three.
The burst continued through to half time with Tigers scoring a further 13 points to just a solitary bucket from Cheshire.
Tigers stretched out their lead to 53-35 on another Jones three before Jets fought back. Attacking the basket at every opportunity, Paul Smith’s men began to get to the free throw line.
Ten free throws helped Jets close to 56-55 before Everton’s Chris Haslem made it 58-55 to end the third quarter.
Everton shut down Jets’ offence in the final stanza after Peterson had made it 63-60. Jerome Gumbs sparked a 12-3 run to end the match with Tigers’ last six points all scored from the charity stripe.
