BBL Championship Roundup: Monday 29th March 2010

Cheshire Jets picked up their fifth successive victory in the BBL Championship thanks to a thrilling 91-92 overtime victory over the Marshall MK Lions at the Centre MK on Monday evening to maintain their quest for a top four finish. Marshall MK Lions 91 (22,48,72,83) (Harrison 38, Morris 18, Williams 17)
Cheshire Jets 92 (31,51,65,83) (Myers 25, Young 24, Davis 19)
(After overtime.  Tied at 83-83 at end of regulation)

Cheshire Jets picked up their fifth successive victory in the BBL Championship thanks to a thrilling 91-92 overtime victory over the Marshall MK Lions at the Centre MK on Monday evening to maintain their quest for a top four finish.
 
The Lions had led 79-75 midway through the final period but a Colin O'Reilly three-pointer sparked an 8-2 Jets run to give them an 81-83 lead with 90 seconds remaining.  EJ Harrison tied the scores at 83-83 and then both sides had opportunities to win the game in regulation but three-pointers from Yorrick Williams for the Lions and Calvin Davis for the Jets came up short as the game was sent into overtime.
 
In the extra period another Jets three-pointer, this time from Paul Peterson sent the visitors on 6-1 tear to lead 87-91 with 1:27 remaining. A Justin Naughton basket and a pair of Harrison free-throws tied the game up at 91-91 with 38 seconds left, but Jerrah Young held his nerve from the foul-line to make one of his free-throws with 26 seconds left to give the Jets a 91-92 lead.
 
The Lions had an opportunity to snatch the victory, but another Williams long-range effort missed and the Lions were forced to foul with six seconds left in the game to send Davis to the line.  Davis missed both of his free-throws and Naughton pulled down the defensive rebound for the home side but he was unable to secure the shot as Young stole the ball for the Jets to give them the victory.
 
Earlier in the game the Jets started much the stronger as they raced out to an early 13-5 lead but the Lions got themselves going thanks to some solid outside shooting from Williams as they trimmed the deficit to just three points at 21-18.  The Jets kicked up another gear as the opening quarter came to a close however and lead 22-31 at the end of the first period.
 
In the second quarter a Robert Youngblood sparked the home side into life and send them into a slender one-point lead at 37-36 off the back of a 15-5 tear.  The Jets immediately responded with a 13-3 burst of their own to retake the lead at 40-49 and they were able to hold onto their lead as the sides headed into the locker rooms with the visitors leading 48-51 at the half.
 
In the second half the home side came out strong and a Max Simon three-pointer instigated a 13-4 tear to take the score out to 64-61.  The Lions maintained their strength for the remainder of the third period and an 8-2 finish to the quarter for the home side helped them into a 72-65 lead heading into the final stanza.
 
The beginning of the final period saw the Jets closing the gap to just a single point at 76-75 before Harrison's three-pointer to make the score 79-75 sparked the fireworks in the closing stages of the game.
 
Harrison (pictured) led all scorers in the game with a highly impressive 38 point haul for the Lions while Shawn Myers led the scoring for the Jets with 25 points personal.