Rocks aim to throw Raiders off-course in bid to narrow Riders’ lead

IT could require unblemished perfection, Kieron Achara claims, to give Glasgow Rocks a shot at securing the British Basketball League title. Even that, the Great Britain captain admits, may simply not be enough.

Sterling Davis’s men will pursue a fourth successive victory when they host Plymouth Raiders tomorrow with an opportunity to reduce the 10-point gap separating them from leaders Leicester Riders.

With 13 games remaining, Achara admits the Scots have not given up all hope of landing a first-ever championship with the top three set to take points off each other in what has become a three-way private duel. Yet it may require the Rocks to better their club record 12-game winning spell from earlier in the season to push themselves into the mix.

“We’re in a position where our destiny’s not in our own hands,” the Stirling-born forward said. “We’re behind Leicester and Newcastle and we are relying on them slipping up. But that means the margins are tight. We might need to win every game from this point to the end of the season.”

Two weeks ago, Glasgow went to Plymouth and impressively claimed an 86-75 victory that tightened their grip on third place in the BBL. Yet there are still fault lines that will need to be closed, Achara concedes, to keep the Raiders at bay once again.

“They’ve got one of the best offensive teams in the league so we have to find a way to take them out of their game. We’ve learned that when we simply try to outscore teams it’s going to put us in a battle. We have to defend. We have to focus.”

Elsewhere, Leicester face off against Cheshire Phoenix in the two-legged semi of the BBL Trophy with a spot in March 19’s final at the Emirates Arena up for grabs.

Great Britain are to face Israel, Hungary and Poland in Warsaw in a three-game series in August that will 200 Renfield Street, Glasgow G2 3QB. email: sport@theherald.co.uk. Tel 0141 302 6590 Head of Sport Stewart Weir wrap up their build-up for EuroBasket finals in Istanbul. the

BBL. Surrey Scorchers v Worcester Wolves (7pm), Bristol Flyers v London Lions (7.30pm); BBL Trophy semi-final, 1st leg. Leicester Riders v Cheshire Phoenix (7.45pm).

BBL (5pm). Glasgow Rocks v Plymouth Raiders, Manchester Giants v Leeds Force BBL Trophy semi-final, 2nd leg. Cheshire Phoenix v Leicester Riders (5.30pm).