JETS, TIGERS ADVANCE INTO LAST FOUR - Hoopsfix.com

JETS, TIGERS ADVANCE INTO LAST FOUR

Cheshire Jets took the second semi-final place in the BBL play-offs on Sunday. Also through are Mersey Tigers, who beat Leicester 82-80, as the field narrows for a berth in Birmingham.

 After a first leg stalemate, Paul Smith's men defeated Plymouth Raiders  83-70 for a 177-164 aggregate victory.

The visitors scored the first six points of the game but a 23-6 Jets burst soon saw the visitors 27-16 behind at the end of the first quarter.

However 
Gavin Love's men hit back to level with a 14-3 run before Anthony Martin eventually gave Plymouth their final lead at 37-36.

Cheshire made their surge and it proved decisive. Closing the half with five unanswered points, the margin ballooned to 60-46 late in the third quarter as the hosts killed off the contest.

The gap grew to 18 and although 
Plymouth closed the Jets lead to 75-68, Cheshire – led by 22 from Quemont Greer – marched onward.

Taking a three-point lead into the second leg at Manchester's Amaechi Centre, Mersey Tigers never trailed overall by more than a basket and eventually managed to hold their nerve against a gritty Riders team to win 181-176 on aggregate.

Nate Reinking led the Mersey scoring with 25 points but it was James Jones' three in the final minute and free throws that made the difference.

The first quarter ended with the tie level once more but made their move, building a 41-33 advantage before going into the break 46-44 in front.

The hosts’ biggest lead of the night came at 58-48 when Jamal Williams made a two but a three from James Whyte trimmed Leicester’s deficit to 63-62 at the end of the third.

Whyte levelled the tie early in the final stanza but after moving 79-71 clear, Mersey found themselves clinging on to a slender overall lead.

Leicester refused to relent, twice edging a point in front on the night but they could not get the margin required. Eventually, David Aliu calmed home fans' nerves with two from the line and Jones made three of four to see the league champions home.

The semi-final draw will be finalised on Monday night as Glasgow Rocks bid to defend an 83-67 lead over Sheffield Sharks at the Kelvin Hall.

With the BBL re-seeding after the quarters, Glasgow would meet Mersey if they prevail but should Sheffield overturn the deficit, they would face Newcastle in the last four.

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