Following a narrow defeat to the Plymouth Raiders, Cheshire Phoenix were able to dust off the cobwebs with a commanding 88-70 victory over rivals Manchester Giants, in a fulfilling derby day result.
Phoenix started the game in dominant fashion, finishing the first quarter with a double digit lead and a total box score of 26-15, after an impressive offensive display that they would continue to carry out throughout a conclusive first half.
Taking advantage of an injury ridden Giants team, Phoenix ended the first half up 59-32 following a high percentage shot output and an overall dominant presence in the paint and off the glass.
Manchester soon hit back in the second half and brought the game to a 66-51 Cheshire lead after a momentous 3rd quarter which the Giants ended on a 19-7 scoring run following a vastly improved defensive and offensive performance from the home side.
Despite a late charge from the Giants, Phoenix saw off their bitter rivals with a conclusive final quarter where they finished the game with a 22-19 run, resulting in the final score being tallied at a significant 88-70 win for the visitors.
Notable performances included Kahron Ross registering 20 points (five rebounds, three assists and two steals) and Jalen Hayes scoring 19 points (nine rebounds, two assists and one steal) with Kyle Carey also notching 15 points (three rebounds, five assists and three blocks) in an overall outstanding team display.
Manchester’s Sam Cassell Jr lead the scoring for the hosts with 15 points (3 rebounds, five assists and one steal) with Donovan Johnson securing a double-double with 11points and 10 rebounds despite being fouled out of the game along with his teammate Breaon Brady who also netted a total of 14 points and nine rebounds.
After a slow start to the season, Cheshire are slowly finding their footing and currently sit in the final play-off spot level on points with the Sheffield Sharks and two points ahead of the Bristol Flyers who both have two games in hand.
Cheshire will now turn their attention to second tier Hertfordshire side, Hemel Storm in the BBL trophy on Sunday. Their next league tie is an away game against play-off rivals Bristol Flyers on the following Friday before returning back to the Cheshire Oaks Arena to play bottom side Glasgow Rocks only two days later.
(Photos courtesy of Adam Day Photography)
