THE youth section of the BiG Storage Cheshire Jets’ team enjoyed a successful weekend.
The Jets’ under 16 boys entertained Northants Thunder on Saturday in the only home game of the weekend, the first of a double-header.
Traffic problems meant the game started late and when play finally got underway Mike Hinchliffe (26) and Jason Helsby (14) wasted no time building a 48-28 half-time lead.
With the Jets comfortable, coaches Mike Burton and Greg Gillard threw in some less experienced players.
The new boys finished strongly, with Charlie Jones scoring four of the last eight points as the Jets won 83-54.
They completed their double header with a trip to York on Sunday.
Helsby was drafted into the U18s so Joe Franklin stepped up to top scored with 15 as they claimed a 74-51 victory (Hinchliffe 14, Pierre Bershier 11).
On Sunday the Jets’ U16 girls travelled to Bury and decided to experiment with a new formation. The results were a smooth, dominant performance with Katie Williams seemingly unable to miss no matter where she shot from.
The Jets led 53-21 at half time, which meant the side could give some game-time to some of the younger squad members. Despite the changes, the girls continued to outscore Bury in every quarter and finished with a 63-32 win. Katie Williams finished with 30 and Mikaela Johnston 12.
Jets’ U18 boys made the short trip up the Wirral to Woodchurch where they faced Wirral Hornets. The visitors took a 48-24 lead into half time. The combination of Rab Tahaouri (23) and James Gardner (16) was difficult for the Hornets to deal with.
Aaron Catling (15) and Sam Craige were also a constant problem for the Hornets as the Jets won 82-39.
Jets’ Jack Griffiths, Jamal Tahaouri, Jake Martin, Daniel Bostock and Zac Baird played for the North West at Lilleshall in a competition for boys born in 1995 or later. They won three out of five games, losing to eventual winners London by nine points.
