North-West Derby Draws Big Crowd for Arena Clash
The biggest crowd of the BBL Championship season so far will
be at the Echo Liverpool Arena on Wednesday evening to see
Everton Tigers face the BiG Storage Cheshire Jets in a crucial
North-West derby live on Setanta Sports 2.
"We're all really looking forward to it, and it's a
great chance for the people of Merseyside to see the game
and the new arena," said Tigers' coach Henry Mooney.
"It's sold out already, so it'll be a great atmosphere.
We've got the full package: cheerleaders, a special programme,
and even a choir. I think we'll put on a good show, and hopefully
it'll be a better game that last week."
With the sides having each won at home against their local
rivals this season, Mooney is expecting a tough game on Wednesday
evening,
"They had a win over the weekend, and ran Eagles close.
Trey Moore and Jayson Obazuaye can flat out score, and we'll
need to have a game plan for that. James Hamilton is a veteran
and brings a lot to their team, so it will be tough."
Tigers remain in sixth place in the BBL Championship table
despite an 85-66 loss at Kularoos Plymouth Raiders on Saturday,
and Mooney was disappointed with his side's display,
"We didn't play well in the second half. It was a one
point game at half-time, but we didn't play after the break,
and the lead ballooned. We took bad shots from the perimeter,
and they killed us with the fast break. Drew Lasker and Anthony
Martin really hurt us in transition. We might get them in
the play-offs, and I think if we're fully fit we match up
well with them, and it would be a good game."
Jets' Head Coach Paul Smith is also looking forward to Wednesday's
match-up,
"It's nice to be on TV. It's good for the club generally
to involved in this big game situation. It's a local derby,
and there's bragging rights at stake, I hope it's a good advert
for the BBL."
Smith picks out former Jets big-man Calvin Davis and Great
Britain international Richard Midgley as the men to watch
for the Tigers,
"I've been to watch them a few times this season because
they are close enough to scout other teams, and Calvin has
been playing really well. He's a great athlete and a solid
professional. When he's fit he'll get you twenty [points]
and ten [rebounds] a night without fail.
"They've got a really nice back court with the three
guards, and I'm really impressed with Richard Midgley. He's
smart and runs the team well, and unlike most guards in this
league he can shoot the three off the dribble. Most three-point
shooters set their feet, but if you give him any room he can
shoot a very quick three on you. I've really enjoyed watching
him as a fan, though I probably won't enjoy coaching against
him quite so much."
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