Beasley Back for Playoff Clash
 Kularoos
Plymouth Raiders forward DeAntoine Beasley is determined to
be back in action when his side meet Sheffield Sharks in the
BBL Championship Playoff quarter-finals on Saturday evening
at Plymouth Pavilions (7.30pm tip-off).
The 29-year-old former Tennessee Tech stand-out injured his
shoulder in a tie-up with Shelby Chaney when the two sides
met in league action a fortnight ago, and he admits to being
frustrated with the injury,
"I'm having physio all week, and I'll definitely be
playing. It's taken longer than I expected to get it mended,
so it's a matter of how many minutes I'll be able to play."
Beasley missed last Wednesday's thrilling win against the
Marshall MK Lions live on Setanta Sports, and also the club's
25th anniversary game on Saturday,
"It's been really frustrating not to be out there. I've
done my cheerleading bit for the team, but pom-poms don't
really suit me, and I'd sooner be playing.
"I have been able to see things from the bench that
I would normally miss, and hopefully that will help me improve
my game when I return at the weekend."
Beasley scored 18 points in his last game on 11th April,
before getting injured, as the Raiders fell 78-73 to the Sharks.
Despite that, he feels that the recent meeting will be useful
in their preparations for this game,
"It was good to play against them recently, so we know
what we're facing. They've been playing really well recently,
and they ended the regular season in good form. We'll look
to jump on them from the start, and hope our depth will wear
them down. We need to control the paint and get their big
men tired. They haven't got a lot depth inside."
The 6'6" forward is in his sixth year with the club
and is looking forward to their second consecutive BBL Championship
Playoff campaign, and hoping to make it to the NIA for the
first time,
"We're really looking forward to the game. Last year
was our first time in the play-offs, and this year is the
first time we've got home court advantage. We want to make
sure we win the game, once you get to the Finals Weekend in
Birmingham anything can happen.
"The fans will be crazy to get their first post-season
win, they really love their basketball down here, and it's
one of the reasons I've been here for so long."
Despite the loss a fortnight ago, the Raiders do hold the
regular season series over the Sharks. They won 71-57 in December,
and 85-73 in February.
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