Evelyn Partners Jets 53
Sussex Thunder 51
Players Player of the Match: Nicole Goddard
Opponents Player of the Match: Lily Jones
THE EVELYN Partners Jets have rocketed to the top of the league this weekend, after their sensational 53-51 comeback win against Sussex Thunder.
“It was a slow start for us in this game, which is a bit of a running theme at the moment, and fell behind. But, we didn’t let that faze us at all, we stuck to our own processes and played our way back into the game,” said captain Rosie Tonner.
“We’ve all worked so hard to be here, after battling for six years in the regionals. Our aim this year was to compete, so we’re certainly exceeding expectations.
“This group is just so close and connected and, after all the work this team have done to get here, we’re all just so determined to keep this momentum going and prove we belong at this level.”
Sussex Thunder didn’t hesitate to prove themselves as tough opposition, as they pulled away early on in the clash to lead by six in the first quarter.
Although the local outfit never relented in their efforts, challenges still presented themselves as they still trailed at half time, with changes and adjustments clearly needed for victory.
“Sussex had to have one of the best holding shooters I’ve seen personally, and their feeders were son on point that it made interceptions and defensive play very hard to come by,” said assistant coach Emily Green.
“Coming in at half-time, the message was clear that we had to close the gap. The team had made some errors in the first half which really cost us, which there’s no room for at this level. We stayed positive, as everyone has an inherent understanding of this group. We know how they can adapt and match different play styles, so we just kept focus.”
The team’s positive culture would have been a huge aid to rallying the team, especially at half-time, as Green continued to say: “As a team, we really push positivity. Of course, we’re honest about where they can improve, but we lean into what’s going well.
“When the players go out there, they’re representing Jersey and that brings a huge sense of pride. With this, we’re composed and professional, proud of how we play the game.”
Something definitely clicked, as the Jets came out strong, with their excellent play and good rotations, especially in the mid-court, reducing the deficit to just one goal going into the decisive final quarter.
That momentum carried into the fourth quarter, amounting into a dramatic last three minutes which saw the Caesareans build up a four goal lead. The door remained open for the visitors to mount a late comeback, until an exceptionally timed interception from Molly Carre stopped them in their tracks. From that moment, the hosts were all assured of victory, winning 53-51.
“The game was an absolute dog-fight, no one was rolling over and it was great to see our players show tenacity. At this level, you need grit as you’re putting your body on the line, because you can’t afford to back off,” Green added.
“It’s absolutely phenomenal that we are now on top of the table, especially in our first season back at this level, and the team’s great understanding of each other is a huge part of this.
“The defensive unit deserve a lot of credit, despite early struggles they never put their heads down. For me, that was their hardest challenge yet, and they showed a lot of tenacity to adjust.
The skipper was buzzing with the win, as Tonner added: “We’ve shown that we aren’t a one-dimensional side, we are a very adaptable and have many different approaches we can use, which is a testament to our team and their experience.
“The rotations were massive for us in this game, we had to switch things up and keep Sussex guessing, and they all slotted in well to maintain play.
“With two games before the break, we want to keep this momentum going. In this league, any team can win on the day, so we have to keep pushing for more and improving.”
Evelyn Partners Jets squad: Rosie Tonner (c), Lily Jones, Grace Thomson, Maddie Fitzgerald-Wilkins, Toni Chaytor, Jacy Brown, Nicole Goddard, Sam Salzone, Molly Carre, Becca Forrest
