CHESHIRE JETS failed to bring the BBL Cup back to the region after getting caught cold by Sheffield Sharks at the National Indoor Arena in Birmingham yesterday.

Jets’ veteran James Hamilton – named the game’s Most Valuable Player (MVP) – spear-headed an impressive fightback, but it proved too little too late in the end as they suffered a 89-86 defeat.

After a slow start it was the Jets who took the first significant advantage – enjoying a 9-2 run to lead 18-11, with threes from Hamilton and Chez Marks. But Sheffield battled back and scored the final 11 points of the quarter to take a 22-18 lead.

The Sharks’ lead was extended to eight points at 28-20 midway through the second session after a Tuck basket.

Sheffield pulled out the biggest lead of the half at 37-26, courtesy of seven unanswered points, and they applied the pressure in the third quarter – a 7-2 start saw them leading 48-35, thanks in no small part to the scoring of Mike Cook. Jets managed a few long range shots, but ultimately struggled to find their range and Sharks led 64-48 going into the final session.

Hamilton stepped things up in the fourth, notably in the final five minutes and galvanised his team into an exciting comeback.

Twice they reduced the match to a three-point game, before Paul Peterson had the chance to cut it to one, only to fail to convert his free throws.

With 26 seconds remaining the Jets were forced to foul to try to re-gain possession.

But Lawson scored four from four free throws to keep them at arms length and, while Chez Marks scored twice, it was not enough to steal the win.