THE latest chapter in the British Basketball League’s biggest rivalry saw Cheshire Jets achieve take-off with a professional second-half performance. Mersey Tigers began well, with big Mo Williams netting four points and providing an uncontested physicality on the rebound. Home debutants Antonio Bustamante and Sam Cricelli appeared to fit the mould and the Tigers appeared to have the measure of the visitors’ defence. However several simple misses, most notably two uncontested dunks by Myles Hesson, caused the quarter to end balanced at 19-19. The home side offered up too many unnecessary shots, seemingly unwilling to use the full 24 seconds for a play. An eight-point run without reply, led by Devan Bailey, cheered the home fans but Bailey was soon benched and the Jets banked some gifts to close the half 38-35 to the good. In quarter three, Jets guard Adam Brown took advantage of Bustamante’s, defensive frailties as he burst to rack up 23 points for the game. Bustamante made amends with a crucial three, narrowly beating the buzzer and giving the Tigers a target to stalk in the fourth quarter. Mathew Otten brought the Tigers level with two looping three pointers, only to see the new signings stall in offence, turning the ball over in confused forward charges. With three minutes on the clock, Bailey was brought on and his commanding presence drew the Tigers to within one point, 68-67. Then a technical foul gave Cheshire four shots and ultimately the win. Top scorers for the Mersey Tigers were Hesson with 18, Otten who had 16 and Bustamante 13, although the latter’s one-in-seven three point record showed room for improvement. Lying one place off the foot of the BBL Championship table, the defeat ran the Tigers’ losing streak to 11 matches, their last victory coming against the Cheshire Jets on December 2. Tony Garbelotto’s team will be aiming to ensure that run is halted this weekend when they visit the Guildford Heat. The match takes place on Sunday afternoon at the Heat’s home court at Surrey Sports Park at the University of Surrey and tips-off at 3pm. | 
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