Friday Fever

It’s back to focusing on the WBBL Championship again this weekend and according to Great Britain’s Georgia Jones, that means Manchester Mystics doing everything they can to get back to winning ways.

It’s been a largely bumpy ride since the high of lifting the WBBL Cup back in January and it won’t get any easier as they look to re-ignite their title challenge at the in-form Leicester Riders tomorrow.

“We are really looking forward to this weekend,” said Jones.

“It was a tough February for us, but we have had two weeks to refresh and get back on track.

“Leicester have been playing good team basketball recently and adding Erika Livermore to their roster has only strengthened them and added to their depth as a team.

“I expect it to be a battle for 40 minutes as it has been the previous times we have played them. Leicester have a lot of talent and are very disciplined, and the results they are seeing recently will be down to the commitment they have put in all season.

“For us, we are really looking forward to getting back on the court and playing our style of basketball. Not having a game last weekend has allowed us to have two solid weeks of practice to focus on our strengths as a team and get back to what we do best.”

She continued, “Having had a tough schedule during February with Sheffield (away) then Nottingham back-to-back, we knew getting the results we wanted wasn’t going to be easy.

“We stepped away from playing to our strengths and we can’t afford to do that against any team this year.

“That’s the great thing about the WBBL this season, it is just so competitive! And it is such a great thing for our league and the sport in general.

“Any team, on any night, can beat anyone – as we have been seeing regularly throughout this season. It makes every match-up exciting to watch, and even more so for us as players to compete in.

“I know for us as a team, we are excited about each game- starting with Leicester, and also the potential of what the rest of the season can bring.”

Also tomorrow, revenge will be the menu as far as Westfield Health Sheffield Hatters are concerned. They host Sevenoaks Suns again on their home floor and will be determined to make amends for their WBBL Trophy Semi-Finals exit last Saturday.

There are also two games on Sunday, with a top against bottom clash as Oaklands Wolves host Nottingham Wildcats, while Caledonia Pride welcome Team Northumbria hoping they can build on the confidence of having finally taken their first win of the campaign.