DURHAM Wildcats chief Dave Elderkin is confident their maiden BBL win is around the corner, as they prepare for their league debut against former club Cheshire Jets.
The Wildcats have suffered five straight defeats since joining British basketball’s big time but as Elderkin is at pains to point out, their opponents have all been among the traditional ‘top-six’ elite.
The Jets qualify on that front too but he has urged his improving side to show no fear when they welcome Cheshire to Newton Aycliffe tonight (7.30pm). “We need that first win,” he admits. “It will help to shape our programme.
“We are getting some very positive vibes throughout the club through all of the areas but that win would certainly help us.
“I think it is coming, the players are starting to look more and more like a unit and it will be great if that victory comes tonight.
“I certainly don’t subscribe to the idea that we should wait for one of the weaker teams in the league to come along. We’re more than capable of pulling it off against one of the division’s bigger clubs.” Elderkin is sweating on the fitness of two of his key men ahead of the visit of the Jets, though.
Fred Hinnenkamp returned to training on Thursday night after an ankle problem but Mark Elderkin has a muscle problem.
“It hasn’t helped our preparation but Fred trained on Thursday and got through the entire game,” the Wildcats head coach said.
“Mark is the one that I’m more worried about, to be honest. But we’ll just have to wait and see.”
Having worked for Cheshire for a year after his departure from the Eagles, Elderkin Senior knows all about the tradition of basketball in the North West.
They have suffered a couple of lean years but have constructed a useful side that should finish towards the top end of the table this year.
“It is an organisation that is quite rightly very proud of its tradition and its past success,” he said. “It is completely different from the club I used to work for but you never expect an easy game.
“Looking at the press cuttings from their end they have tagged it as a ‘must-win’ game so we know they will be coming here looking for something. But so will we.”
