Ahead of Cheshire Jets clash with Marshall MK Lions on Sunday, an eagerly anticipated repeat of the BBL Cup Semi Final, Jets Head Coach Paul Smith, has expressed his delight at the recent performances of Jerrah Young. After Frank Phifer was released late last year, and his replacement Cedric Crawford did not live up to his billing, Young has given the Jets a burst of energy since arriving in Cheshire, and Smith was pleased with the progress of the athletic American:

‘Jerrah has settled in very well’ he said: ‘He is doing a great job for us on and off the court. His work ethic is excellent and he has given our forward line a much needed boost of energy and intensity.’

His opposite number, Lions boss Vince Macaulay, sees the game as a chance for the Lions to take care of unfinished business, as it was the Jets who knocked them out of the Cup competition, at the Semi Final stage. Macaulay commented: ‘Against the Jets, we feel we have a score to settle. Whilst they performed valiantly in the BBL Cup Final, we know we should never have lost the two legged semi, and it's up to us to show that that is indeed the case.’ The 2007/08 Molten BBL Coach of the Year also had praise for his starting forward, American Frank Holmes. He added: ‘Frank is terrific, he is such a lovely guy and on the court, and without a shadow of a doubt, the best big man in the league. In our team, averaging seventeen (points) and eight (rebounds) would convert to twenty five (points) and fifteen (rebounds) on other teams because we have an equal opportunity set up, and he responds. He is one of two or three players on our team that are going to really blossom in the coming weeks.’

Another coach who will want to take care of unfinished business, and keep his team on the right path at the same time, is Dave Titmuss of Worthing Thunder. In reference to his side’s game against Glasgow Rocks on Sunday, Titmuss said: ‘We don't have happy memories of the last time we were in Glasgow. We didn't compete and just dug ourselves a hole early in the game that we never recovered from. This time it's not about playing hard or ‘x's and o's’ it's about competing.’

Completing the weekend’s line up are games between Airwaves Plymouth Raiders and Essex Pirates, Guildford Heat and PAWS London Capital, and Everton Tigers welcome Worcester Wolves.