CHESHIRE Jets booked their place in the BBL Play-off semi-finals on Sunday when they knocked out the in-form Plymouth Raiders.
The Jets bounced back from a disappointing end to the regular season by winning 83-70 at a packed Northgate Arena in Chester.
Head coach Smith said: “It is a boost to get to the semis. I think 2005 was the last time we got this far in the play-offs and we lost in the final that year.
“It's been a while since we got past the first round so I think we’ll enjoy it for a day or so and get ready for whoever we get in the semis.”
The Jets will this weekend face newly-crowned BBL Championship Mersey Tigers as reward for their 177-164 aggregate victory over the Raiders.
Smith side’s could and should have put the quarter-final tie to bed in Saturday’s first leg in Devon.
With Jeremy Bell (36) in scintillating form, the visitors led by 16 points at one stage.
But they took their foot off the gas and the Raiders roared back to secure a 94-94 draw thanks in no small part to the 32 points Chez Marks scored against his former employers.
But that was as good as it got for Marks as Quemont Greer (22), Bell (19) and courageous captain Colin O’Reilly (18) combined to seal the Jets’ place in the last four against the Tigers.
The first leg takes place at the Northgate on Saturday (7.30pm) and the second at the Amaechi Centre in Manchester on Sunday (6pm).
