BBL: Jets May 2010
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James Hamilton: Interview Match Reports Including: Jets vs Newcastle Eagles
Head Coach Paul Smith reflects on the season The Biggest And Best Place To Hear About Your Team!
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Contents Interview With A True Jets Legend... on pages 4 & 5... James Hamilton talks exclusively to BBL:mag
Chris Hesketh Editor
Welcome to this month’s issue of BBL: magazine, as you can already tell we are focussing on the Cheshire Jets. Each month will see a differet team from the British Basketball Legaue in the spotlight with news, interviews and reports from your local team. In this month’s issue we have an interview with Jets legend and captain James Hamilton, match reports from the Jets games against Leicester Riders, Newcastle Eagles and Essex Pirates. We also have an up close and personal interview with Head Coach Paul Smith and a quickfire round with Shawn Myers. With the Jets finishing fourth in the league and being involved in two cup finals this season, they have had an outstanding few months. Next is the playoff quarterfinal against their fierce North West rivals, Everton tigers. It will no doubt be a terrific encounter and you will not want to miss out as the Jets welcome back Trey Moore. Attending the games at the Northgate Arena has been a real pleasure, the fans are a credit to the team and the atmosphere is always electric. Next time we will be looking at the Newcastle Eagles and focussig on a terrific season for the BBL Champions. BBL:Jets
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Page 6...Paul Smith gives us his thoughts on the season and how he and the Jets can improve on a impressive return to form. Page 7... Quick-Fire round with Shawn Myers, on the season and his teammates Match Reports 8 VS RIDERS 9 VS EAGLES 10 VS PIRATES May 2010
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“I have won everything with this club, it’s like family to me.”
James Hamilton has become synonymous with the Cheshire Jets and has forged and outstanding career since his move over to England in 1996. The 37-year-old veteran can’t believe he is still playing at his age but he has been an important part of the Jets success this season. “I never expected to reach 37 and still be competing but I am glad that I am.” It is definitely a fair reflecPage 4
tion to call him a Jets legend, he has won everything with this club, been through the bad times and his work in the community is unmatched. “I would say it is a fair assessment. It is a great honour to be classed as a legend, I have been here a very long time, and I think I’m the longest serving American at an English club. May 2010
I have won everything with this club, it’s like family to me.” He made his debut back in 1999 and since then has had three stints at the club. I asked him what made him come to play Basketball in England. “I had some friends in London and when I visited I really liked it, so I decided to BBL:Jets
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James Hamilton:
A true legend still going strong! Chris Hesketh meets up with the Cheshire Jets Superstar. come and play my basketball over here.” He played for Worthing Thunder before Jets and then had a stint in Europe. Hamilton’s talent was an obvious gift and his family played a big part in him starting up, “I was about six when I first started to play, my dad and my two brothers also played, so it runs in the family. As I got older I became a lot taller than the other kids my age, which helped, and I just developed all the skills and noticed I had a talent.” James now has a family over here in England and has set up his home here. “It is very nice here, Chester is a lovely place, unfortunately the weather is terrible but my family is here and I love it.” He explains to me how he lives and active life and that sport is a very big passion of his. “I like to go bowling, playing tennis, training in the gym and I enjoy going horse riding. I do play golf but I’m not very good at it. (laughs).” This season has seen the Jets return to great form and Hamilton has been a major influence in the team reaching two finals, finishing fourth in the league and setting up a quarterfinal play-off with Everton Tigers. “Yeh I am very happy with how the season has gone this time around, especially the first three quarters of
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it, I’ve been hurt for the last few weeks but the younger guys stepped in and have done a magnificent job.” The quarterfinal with the Tigers is an eagerly anticipated tie and it will be interesting which North West club comes out on top but Hamilton believes that the Jets will have too much for their opponents. “There’s no doubt in my mind, we have a better team individually and we have a full squad for the first time in a while, so I think we will be too good for them especially at home.” The Jets faithful always turn out in their droves and create a buzzing atmosphere May 2010
for the players to enjoy. “Fans are fans, we have some amazing ones, the type that turn up every week if we are playing well or not and we also have the fans that turn up when we’re winning. The Jets faithful are amazing.” Hamilton has no thoughts of hanging up his sneakers just yet and is hoping to be a part of the team for another season yet. “I do see myself going into coaching after I have finished my playing career, I can teach what I have learnt and pass on all my knowledge but that won’t be just yet.” Page 5
Chris Hesketh pays Paul Smith a visit at training
I turned up to the training session in great anticipation and I was also a bit nervous, as I didn’t really know where I was. Blacon High School is where the Jets train during the week and they turned up bang on 8pm. I introduced myself to Coach Paul Smith and he introduced me to the players and they were a great bunch of guys, which settled my nerves straight away. As the team starting running through their warm up routine a took the chance to speak to Paul. How do you rate the overall performance of the team this season? “It has been very good, we are just missing a piece of Page 6
silverware to cap it off, we have had some serious injuries this season which has made it tough but fourth spot and two finals is a credit to the team.” Are you happy with what you have achieved? “It has been an improvement on the last few seasons, so it can only be a positive sign, overall I am happy.” Coach jumps up from the seat beside me and instructs the players to start their stretches before the training session becomes more vigorous. How did the team take the two final defeats? “It’s always tough to lose a final, never mind two but we have a great team spirit May 2010
here. The guys responded really well to both defeats and we didn’t have time to dwell on them because we had league games coming straight after.” What can you improve on next season? “I think we need a bit more size in the team, a legitimate centre and we need to improve on our defensive side. The defence is what wins the titles and the trophies.” Will you be bringing in new players? “My mind is focussed on the players we have got and working with them, but if the right person becomes available then we will start to look into it.” Paul jumps up again and this time he doesn’t come back for a while, as he has a job to do with the players before the weekends big clash at the Northgate Arena. Everton Tigers are in town once again for the playoff quarterfinal and they bring with them former Jet Trey Moore. Can you win the playoffs? “Yeh definitely, we have a lot healthier squad now and are in really good form of late. It will be tough though and if we lose this one we’re out just like that.” What are your aims for next season? “We want to be competing for the league up until the last few weeks at least and hopefully we can grab a trophy as well.” The Jets players part ways after a very intense training session and Paul Smith goes home in a confident mood. BBL:Jets
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Chris Hesketh grills Jets veteran Shawn Myers in the quick-fire round Shawn Myers is the subject of this weeks quick fire round and here is what he had to say after five minutes with Chris Hesketh. Have you personally had a good season? “Yeh I think I have performed in a lot of games but it is the team that deserves credit, every player stepped up to the plate when we had injuries.” What was your best performance of the season? “I think it would have to be the trophy final, I played really well in that game in particular but unfortunately we lost.” How hard was it to lose the two finals? “It is always difficult, you start to think ‘where are we going wrong?’ but we had the rest of the season to get on with, so we couldn’t dwell on the past.” Can you win a trophy next season and push for the title? “Definitely, we can upset some people, we have a very good team and it is definitely do able.” Are you looking forward to next season? “If they decide to have me back (laughs) but I am looking forward to it.” How do you think the team will do in the playoffs? “We have to take it one game at a time, and Everton is the first game.” BBL:Jets
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What is the best thing about playing for the Jets? “The Jets is like a family, it is great, playing the games and training becomes like home.” What do you think of the fans? “They are the best fans ever, our fans are winners and they give off a winning mentality which is good for the team.” Who trains hardest in the team? “We all train as hard as each other, we all come to training with the same mentality
May 2010
and we give 100% everyday.” Is there anyone who is particularly lazy in training? “No I don’t think so, this is a team and it is a collective effort.” Do you get much spare time outside of basketball? “We only train for two hours a day, so we always have time to ourselves and to go to the pub for lunch and things like that.” Who is the funniest member of the team? “We all have our moments, we keep morale up by joking with each other.”
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Match Report VS
By Chris Hesketh
Jets flying high after win 03/04/10 The Cheshire Jets put in a spirited performance against Leicester Riders to move within two points of fourth, winning 91-82 in a thrilling encounter. The Riders came into the game above the Jets in the league and it was they who seized the early initiative, although Calvin Davis started off superbly with a huge leap to reject the Riders first attempt. The scores were locked at 11 all after the first five minutes but after that the Riders took control with a 14 point to six point stand which set them up with a comfortable early advantage. 17-25. The second period saw a completely different Jets team turn up, the Riders eight point advantage soon vanished as the Jets piled on the pressure. A free flowing counter attack instigated by Paul Peterson was emphatically finsihed off by Colin O’Reilly and Steven Gayle added three more points with superb long range effort. The Jets were clarly in the ascendency and Riders Coach Rob Paternostro let it get the better of him as Page 8
he got very agitated on the touchline. A 29 point to a 11 stand for the Jets gave them a 10 point lead to get take into the break. 46-36. The third quarter started with a sensational three pointer on the shot clock buzzer by O’Reilly and he followed it up with another sensational two points after twisting his way past the defence. Shawn Myers typified the Jets defence, shutting out the Riders and releasing Peterson for another fast paced counter attack which was too much for the Riders to deal with. The Jets ended the third period with a very comfortable 14 point advantage, leading 63-49. Another angry moment for Riders Coach Paternostro earned him nothing but ridicule from the Jets faithful. The final 10 minutes started with two fantastic three pointers from the Jets, first O’Reilly sunk from distance and then Myers followed up. The lead stretched out to 19 points after another impressive scoring display from the Jets. The Riders weren’t in any mood on giving the game up May 2010
and hit back very strongly reducing the deficit to just six points. The Jets kept their cool and ran the clock down impressively to hold on for the win. Colin O’Reilly (Jets) lead both teams with an impressive 28 points personal in an outstanding display, Paul Peterson also helped out with 19 points. The Riders top scorer was Bradd Wierzbicki with 26 points personal.
Colin O’Reilly was on top scoring form for the Jets with 28 points.
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Match Report VS
By Chris Hesketh
Eagles dent Fourth Place Bid 11/04/10 The Cheshire Jets were looking to bounce back from a 12 point defeat at the hands of their local rivals the Everton Tigers who are also vying for a home play off spot. The home team game into the game needing a win to boost their play-off aspirations but the Newcastle Eagles outclassed their opponents to keep the pressure on Sheffield Sharks at the top of the BBL. The Eagles eventually won the game 93-85 after a spirited fight back from the Jets late on in the fourth quarter. It was the Jets who started the game quicker and Colin O’Reilly started the 13-2 push early on with a great three pointer out wide. The Eagles never seemed worried and began clawing their way back as the Jets seemed to step off the gas and errors started to creep into their play. A 2-15 stand for the Eagles saw them edge the first 10 minutes 15-17, and the Jets needed to keep in touch to have any chance at all. The Jets didn’t turn up in the second quarter, some appalling finishing from BBL:Jets
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The Jets struggled all night with breaking through the Newcastle rear guard, but battled back hard in the final quarter
close range and dodgy defending were their downfall. The Eagles defence dealt with everything the Jets threw at them and scored on every counter attack. The Jets fans had nothing to get excited about and were quiet throughout the second period and the Jets players looked lost on the court, unable to score many points. A timeout at 23-35 didn’t inspire the players and at halftime they were down by 14, Eagles leading 33-47. The Jets still couldn’t get a firm hold of the game and were still leaking points every time the Eagles attacked. The Eagles’ Joe Chapman was still being given too much time and space to line May 2010
up his shots and he punished the Jets with 8 from 13 three point attempts. At 54-73 at the end of the third there was no real hope of the Jets even getting close to the Eagles playing like they had been for 20 minutes. The Jets came out and surprised everyone including the Eagles and got to within six points near the end but they had left the comeback too late and lost the game. The Eagles were impressive throughout Chapman lead them with 24 points personal, it was Jerrah Young, Chez Marks and Colin O’Reilly who kept the Jets scores flowing with 26, 25 and 24 respectively. Page 9
Match Report VS Jets Seal Home Play-off The Jets came into this game with two wins over Plymouth Raiders, 102-105 OT, and London Capital, 5785, in mid week. This means the Jets will now face their North West rivals, Everton Tigers, in the playoff quarterfinals at the Northgate Arena in what
Paul Peterson was in scintalating form as he passed the Pirates defence off the court.
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promises to be a thrilling encounter. The Essex Pirates provided the last test of the season for the Jets and it proved to be nothing but a training session for the home team. The Jets cruised to a 99-62 victory, which delighted the home fans. Calvin Davis provided the Jets early spark with two three pointers in quick succession and it was evident the Pirates were in for a tough ride. Chez Marks also hit three triples in the opening 10 minutes as the home team took a firm grip of the game. The first quarter ended with a 13 point gap, 27-14. The second quarter brought much of the same from the Jets as they began to push their advantage further. Paul Peterson was inspirational in all the Jets build up play, passing the Pirates to death at times and it was starting to look like exhibition stuff from the home team. Marks hit two more triples in his 10-point contribution to another 27 point haul for the Jets. 54-32 at half time. The end result was ineviMay 2010
By Chris Hesketh
18/04/10 table and the second half was just about concentration. The Jets came out and dominated the play again, and with Peterson in the mood they were picking the Pirates off at will. Colin O’Reilly started to find his range in the third quarter as he sunk two from outside the arc as the Jets kept the score ticking over. It was also a great defensive display from the Jets, regularly denying the Pirates any time or space. Marks scored some superb baskets during the game, with a couple right on the buzzer at the end of the third. 75-51. The margin between the two teams reached its peak at 40 points in the fourth quarter, Phil Brandreth came off the bench to score six points. The game was wrapped up by a Steven Gayle basket but in truth it had been over since the first quarter. Chez Marks was the top scorer in the game with 28 points personal. Samuel Toluwase top scored for the Pirates with 18 points personal. Peterson provided the most assists of the night with eight in a great display. BBL:Jets
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Next Month... An Interview with Great British Captain Andrew Sullivan
Joe Chapman pops into the office for a chat
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...Newcastle Eagles
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May 2010
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British Basketball...
...At Its Best SATURDAY 8th MAY 2010 NIA BIRMINGHAM
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