To celebrate the Queens Jubilee and her visit to Chester, for the next three weeks only we are offering businesses the chance to sign up to support the Cheshire Jets during the 2012/13 season for half price on two special sponsorship packages.

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This weekend the Jet’s will continue their turnaround season in the playoff semi-finals against BBL Regular Season Champion Newcastle Eagles. With the away leg being played in Newcastle on Friday, the men in black will return to the Northgate on Sunday to finish the series:

Jets Vs. Eagles – Friday 4th May @ 7.30pm
Jets Vs. Eagles – Sunday 6th May @ 5.30pm

The importance of this game is not to be overlooked, and American Centre Matthew Schneck had this message for the fans:

“After what they’ve accomplished this year and in years past, we look at the Newcastle Eagles with a lot of respect. I think that their current situation, is the direction the community and those in our front office are hoping our club can eventually head. In order to do that, you’ve got to compete in big games like this weekend. There have been few times throughout the season where the spotlight has been on us, so it’s time to perform. We’ve had a great turn-around, and an enjoyable past month, but there is more we as a unit would like to accomplish. Heading into the game we’re the underdogs, which takes the pressure off a little bit, and after a good practice last night, you can tell our mindset is what it needs to be. We’re hoping to give back to the fans this weekend. And hoping that they will come out to support us both away in Newcastle and on Sunday at the Northgate.”

Support your Cheshire Jet’s and buy matchday tickets HERE.

After yesterday’s thrilling victory over Worcester Wolves in the BBL Playoff quarter-finals, the Jets will face BBL Champions Newcastle Eagles in the semi-finals of the BBL Playoffs.  The away leg will be played in Newcastle on Friday, with the return leg at the Northgate on Sunday:

Jets @ Eagles – Friday 4th May @ 7.30pm
Jets v Eagles – Sunday 6th May @ 5.30pm

Tickets are on sale now from the website for the home leg – and they’re sure to sell out fast!  Get yours soon to avoid disappointment!

Two of the surprise packages of this season’s BBL Championship meet at Worcester University on Saturday evening in the last of the four BBL Championship quarter-final first legs.

Wolves recorded their highest ever finish in the regular season as their 22-8 record was enough to take third spot, only missing out on the runners-up medal on the head-to-head tiebreaker with Jelson Homes DMU Leicester Riders.  Meanwhile, the Jets’ post-season hopes looked dead and buried in late March, but six wins in their final seven games saw the Cheshire side finish the season with a 13-17 record to edge out One Health Sharks Sheffield for sixth place. [read more]

As the Jets get ready to face Worcester Wolves in the playoff quarter-finals tomorrow we caught up with Adam Brown to ask about the team’s preparation and, more importantly, what are those mohawks all about!?

“They started as a joke at first,” Adam says.  “Then became a team bonding type of thing. We were all just chilling and Colin asked Bill if could he give him a Mohawk.  Bill said “let’s do it” and Colin started acting like he was cutting him one, but I grabbed the clippers and took off half his hair.  There was no turning back after that.”

“Bill’s looked decent,” Adam continued.  “So I cut Colin’s next, then gave myself one.  I recently gave Kai Williams one as well, but Matt went to the barber to get his.”

This story says less about Adam’s barber skills than it does about the Jets’ team chemistry and how they all get along off the court.  “We all get along very well on this team – there’s lots of laughter and good times,” says Adam.  “Also we all can talk too each other on the court without having attitudes, which is a huge difference from other teams I have been on.”

After a generally frustrating season the Jets are hitting form right when it counts – playoff time – and the challenges and obstacles they’ve faced as a team during the season have brought them closer together, which is now showing on the court.  “This season has been nothing short of frustrating,” agreed Adam. “We have all come from winning programs and are used to winning, so losing hasn’t been normal for us.  I believe we have one of the most talented teams in the league as individuals and team wise, so the struggle we have had was surprising.  Having five guys to play a whole game while others have 8 to 10 players was a challenge in itself, but all excuses aside we should have done better.”

A run of four straight wins (and six out of seven) heading in to the playoffs could hardly have been better preparation to launch an assault as the dark horses of the playoffs.  “ Our team chemistry is at a season high and were playing great basketball,” admits Adam.  ”Our confidence in our team is very high right now and will remain like this throughout the playoffs.  We are at the peak of our performance as a team and individually, so we do believe we will make a run in the playoffs.”

The first hurdle in the playoff run is a trip to Worcester to face the Wolves in the quarter-finals – a team the Jets have struggled with this season.  “Our team is playing the best basketball we have played all year and even though the Wolves have beaten us three times we are confident we can play with them and will give them a run for their money,” says Adam.  “Losing is never the plan when the Cheshire Jets step on the floor.”

The Jets visit Worcester tomorrow (Saturday 28^th April) in the BBL Playoff quarter-final first leg, with the second leg on Sunday 29^th April at the Northgate [buy tickets].

This weekend we enter the first round of the play-offs in a two legged contest against the Worchester Wolves.  They’re a team with very balanced front and back-court talent.  At their PG position Prezzie-Blue is a pure penetrate and kick player whom compliments their SG well, as both have the ability to shoot from several feet beyond the arc, and create for themselves.  Freeman has enjoyed tremendous success offensively this year.  Their PF plays a European style pick and pop, while their C Gordon has a tremendous athletic ability for his size and contributes a double-double on a night to night basis.  As we look forward as a 6th seed, confidence within the locker room is high given the win percentage over our last 10 games.  It feels as though we’ve begun to peak at the right time and while certainly we’re proud of how we’ve competed down the stretch, the play-offs hold an importance for all athletes.  Having the fans behind us will help us make that final push, so we are hoping the stands are packed at the Northgate on Sunday. Go Jets!

-Matthew Schneck

A packed out Northgate saw the Jets power through the Sharks to head into the quarter final play off’s this weekend as a serious threat.

QPR’S Djibril Cisse, his wife Jude and their family were in the crowd to see John Lavery’s men recorded their sixth win in seven games with a 98-77 victory which saw the Jets move into sixth place in the league table. The Jets outscored the Sharks by 19 points in a dominant second half. There were two double-doubles to delight the hosts with Matt Schneck finishing on 17 points and 14 rebounds while Bill Cole added with 20 points and 11 rebounds, but the plaudits were saved for Colin O’Reilly who finished with a 17 point, 10 rebound and 10 assist triple-double.

Jets had also won on Friday night as they travelled to Newcastle and beat the champions 96-81 on their own court. Kai Williams led all scorers with 29 points, including 5/6 three-pointers, and 8 rebounds; both Colin O’Reilly (19 points and 10 rebounds) and Matt Schneck (15 & 16) had double-doubles for the Jets.

The quarter final match up see’s the Jets travel down to third place Worcester on Saturday then back up for Sunday’s what’s sure to be one of the most thrilling games of the season. Tickets are now available online at www.jetsbasketball.org.u

After clinching sixth place in the BBL Championship following yesterday’s win over the Sharks, the Jets will face 3rd place finisher Worcester Wolves in the quarter-finals of the BBL Playoffs.  The away leg will be played in Worcester on Saturday, with the return leg at the Northgate on Sunday:

Jets @ Wolves – Saturday 28th April @ 7pm
Jets v Wolves – Sunday 29th April @ 5.30pm

Tickets are on sale now from the website for the home leg – and they’re sure to sell out fast!  Get yours soon to avoid disappointment!

In the most meaningful fixture on the last afternoon of the regular season, Jets and Sharks battled it out in a winner-takes-all match up for sixth spot in the final standings.

Both teams headed onto the court at Northgate Arena buoyed by Friday night wins against Newcastle Eagles and UCP Marjon Plymouth Raiders respectively and it was Jets who emerged victorious as they exploded during an absolutely stunning second half. [read more]

Sixth spot in the final BBL Championship table is up for grabs when the Jets host One Health Sharks Sheffield later on today.

The Sharks are currently holding sixth, two points ahead of the Jets, but a victory today would see the Jets move level on point, but would also give them the head-to-head decider. Sixth place in the table earns a date with Worcester Wolves in the playoff quarter finals, while seventh would set up a tie against Leicester Riders. [read more]