Leeds Force: Force target lengthy cup run to shake-off disappointing defeat

The boys are hurting but we need to take that hurt and turn in a good performance next week against Glasgow in the cup.

Everything was going to plan in the first half.

Leading by 12, we should have gone on and made it two wins from two.

Without making excuses, it had been a tough week for the boys.

Jack Isenbarger, who was unstoppable last week, and Eddie Matthew both had the flu so they were out for most of the week and didn’t get on the court.

Me myself, I was also battling with the flu but coach Matt Newby left it to me to make a decision whether I was fit enough to play.

He trusted me enough that I knew the limits of my body and how I was feeling coming into the game against Cheshire.

In hindsight it maybe wasn’t the best idea to play.

I was slow in all areas of the court which didn’t help the team, especially in the second half.

But I did manage to get over the line and score my 1,000th point in the BBL which I am immensely proud to have achieved.

It meant a lot to me to hear a special roar from the crowd when I did.

The defeat wasn’t the only disappointment of the evening.

In the final quarter I was jumping for a rebound and landed on an opposition player’s foot.

I went over my ankle and couldn’t play any further part in the game. It has swollen up and is very painful to walk on.

It feels like a sprain and hopefully it is nothing more than that.

I am resting it just now and praying it won’t keep me out for long.

We need to take the positives from the game, which I think there was plenty off. Jermaine Sanders started like a rocket.

That triple at the start of the second, just brilliant!

And Rob Sandoval also sank a triple from deep that surprised a few, if I do say so myself.

As a team we had a hold over the Phoenix at the halfway stage and, in transition, we looked dangerous.

So we need to continue with the good work we did in the game and take the difficult lessons we learned from it too to come back better and stronger.

It’s going to be a tough game on Sunday when we travel up north to Scotland’s second city, but we want a good cup run, for the fans mostly.

If we train hard, prepare properly and listen to the coach’s instructions, I don’t see why we can’t cause an upset or two in the BBL Cup.

I know it’s a long trip but if as many of you as possible can make it up there it would help us no end.

Hope to see you there.