Raiders get their season started with Pompey win

THE new basketball season is up and running and it was a winning start for Plymouth Raiders in their opening Division two match of the season against Portsmouth Force at a packed Life Centre.

- By BRYAN MAGUIRE

After securing the entirety of last season's roster to return for this season - itself a first in Raiders recent history, the only concern was the lack of games during preseason. But they need not have worried, making the step up look relatively straightforward with a superb win.

Raiders will look to follow that up with another win this weekend when Bristol Hurricanes head to the Life Centre in a 2pm tip-off.

A tough outing against USA Select notwithstanding at the end of August, it felt like the delayed start of the season due to a new Basketball England IT platform implementation meant that fans and players alike have had to wait two weeks longer than usual to get underway.

Coach Gaz Laws started with experience with forward and Raiders top scorer and current MVP Tom Woods leading the offensive charge with Jamie Davies off the back of a high performing turn last year as one of the outstanding point guards in the division, marshalling the back court.