Busy Paul van Beek, the smallest player on the court, approaches the Jersey board.

Guernsey 67, Jersey 65
‘NEVER in doubt’ Jeff Stuart proclaimed.

Pull the other one, mate.

Guernsey, the hot favourites, very nearly threw away the golden prize on a thrilling basketball inter-insular afternoon at Beau Sejour.

Cruising it at half-time, Stuart’s star-studded side came within one three-pointer of losing a match they had looked like storming.

And if Dave Middleton, the Jersey No. 13, had popped in the long-range attempt with just 30sec., left on the clock, it’s a fair bet the Greens might not have overturned the deficit.

It made for terrific action but, for the home contingent, increasingly worrying moments.

But Stuart, a player-coach renowned for maximising his bench and embracing the team ethic, was rather blasé about the closeness of it all beyond the final hooter.

‘Maybe four or five years ago we’d have choked, but not today.’