Recap
It was a repeat of the 2021/22 season final as the league draw pit season champions Forget Me Not Jets against their former teammates MicroGaming Cavaliers in the first game of the new campaign. Jets ran a short bench, with only one substitute for the game, but any questions about an ability to maintain their usual high pace game were quickly put to bed. Jake Glover and Wayne Mears used their speed to devastating effect while Pete Boussougou played a big role on the inside, allowing Jets to establish a solid lead from early on. Cavaliers offence struggled against the triangle-and-two of Jets defence, with their normal scoring powerhouse – big man Dave Minay – struggling to find his way onto the scoresheet in the first half. Lorenz Freno, Daniel Dunajewski and Martin French managed to rack up some points for Cavaliers but a difficult first half ended with Jets well in the lead, 37-18.
The second half did little to change the outcome as Jets continued to push their advantage and Boussougou continued to devastate on the inside, picking up plenty of fouls and free throws along the way. Cavaliers attempted to shoot over the zone, shifting to more of an outside game in the second half, but the rings proved frustratingly stubborn with only French and Freno finding any success and much too late to impact the outcome. When the final buzzer sounded it was a flawless take off for Jets, 75-46 in the season opener. Man of the Match was awarded to Pete Boussougou who was key to Jets taking flight.