Beasley Thanks Coach for Big Chance
Kularoos Plymouth Raiders small forward DeAntoine Beasley
can't wait to get into the action as his side prepare for
their first trip to the BBL Finals Weekend, taking place at
the National Indoor Arena in Birmingham this Saturday and
Sunday,
"I think it will be great," he enthused, "it's
the first time we've got to the finals weekend in the BBL,
and it's what we've been working for all season. We want to
be playing in the championship game on Sunday. I know there's
a third-placed game, but I want us in the final."
Having injured his shoulder against the Sheffield Sharks
in a league game early in April, Beasley played through the
pain barrier to help Raiders defeat the Sharks 91-73 in their
playoff quarter-final, and he led all scorers with 26 points.
Despite his injury problem, he enjoyed the experience,
"It was a good game. I sat out practice during the week,
and I had to take a lot of painkillers and I was pretty sore
next day, but it was definitely worth it. I guess I'll have
to do the same this week, I'll probably sit out practice at
the start of the week, have a lot of physio and do the best
I can over the week."
With Raiders having played over 40 games this season, it
was the play-off quarter-final against Sharks that stands
out as Beasley's most memorable of the campaign,
"Last weekend was great. The fans were going crazy in
their green and white wigs, and the atmosphere was fantastic.
Even while we were warming up we could feel it. It was really
enjoyable, and I'm sure we'll have a lot of support in Birmingham.
It's one of the nearest places we travel to."
Beasley admits that it is the Plymouth fans who have played
a key part in keeping him at the West Country club for five
seasons as they are continually close to capacity at the Plymouth
Pavilions,
"There's no doubt that they are a big part of why I
am still here, and why Plymouth will always be my first option
while I'm playing in the BBL," he asserted.
While he has carved out a successful career in the BBL, 29-year-old
Beasley has done it the hard way after spending two seasons
with the Raiders in the EBL Division One before they made
the step up, and he appreciates the chance he was given by
Raiders' coach Gary Stronach,
"I'd like to thank the coach for giving me the chance.
I wanted to go to the BBL after the first year, but he persuaded
me to stay and kept me around when the club made the step
up. I'm good friends with EJ Harrison [Guildford Heat], and
we've both made it into the BBL even though people said we
wouldn't make it."
Beasley will go head-to-head with his friend this weekend
when the Raiders and Heat clash in the playoff semi-final,
the Heat have won four of the five meetings between the sides
this season, although Beasley did hit 20 points in their 67-79
win in November as he averages 18.5 points per game against
the side whom they have not seen since January.
Plymouth have shown steady improvement throughout their four
years in the BBL, and Beasley puts a lot that down to their
strength in depth, "We've added some depth this season,
with Anthony Martin coming in, which allowed Gavin Love to
come off the bench, and we have some real firepower off the
bench now. We've got better each year, when we came up we
were only six deep, and although we could get away with that
in the EBL, we needed more depth once we came up. We've got
more respect, and we've proved we're not the whipping boys.
It's part of paying your dues, and we get a few more decent
calls now !"
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