Poised to draw a foul under the Plymouth Raiders basket, the Latvian power-forward was announcing his arrival as one of the league's star men for Worthing Thunder on their BBL maiden opening night. Their auxiliary centre had 17 points and seven rebounds.

Newcastle, the defending league champions, will now at least recognise him among the mostly unknown new boys on the block at the Leisure Centre this Saturday. They come after an opening 86-81 home victory over Guildford Heat in front of 3,000, while Thunder lost their opening match to Plymouth Raiders.

Thunder were under-complement against a full-strength Raiders team, who had seven players in double figures. But none exceeded the 22 of Worthing's only American who started, playmaker Ryan Patton. But the Clevelander sat out most of the second quarter in foul trouble, and added 14 of those points in the dead final quarter, which began 71-52 to Plymouth.

Thunder were sad not to limit the damage to 20 points. Two late Andrew Lasker baskets spoilt that. But with third import Colby Bargeman still in the United States owing to visa delays, second American signing Jonathan Woods almost comatose on the bench with jetlag after a 10.30am Heathrow touchdown, and shooting-guard Dan Wardrope out injured, Worthing fans expected little more.

The curtain rose early. The 7pm start is intended to attract younger families and a number of the eventual 350 crowd were still abandoning supper to scramble along while Patton was sinking a long three-pointer for Thunder's first points.

New colour trim of orange on their black kit heralded the new era.

Fanfare For The Common Man ushered the league newcomers from darkness into light. Some 10 Thunder Cats dancers had materialised in a few days, and point-guard Daniel Hildreth's wife, Helen, had prepared them already in some neat routines.

Romek Kriwald mixed the match music, with drums and bass pulsing through the gaps between. Fans were contesting obstacle races to the basket in the quarter-breaks and queuing for the free throw line in the half-time interval.

And a surprise first-day present for the fans ran out: new unexpected signing, the 6ft 7in former Teesside forward from London Capital last season, Lijah Perkins. The England forward's 12 points and 12 rebounds were a hugely encouraging portent.

Patton and Ivanovskis, with eight points, put Worthing 3-0, 5-2 and 12-10 ahead before Plymouth's first damaging scoring run. A 10-0 streak fired by quick guards Lasker and Anthony Martin, struck Thunder with lightning.

Although Worthing pulled back to 19-22, they never led again, and gallops of 19-2 in the second quarter (ending 48-38) and 15-0 (for 68-46 in the third) stretched Raiders away.

Thunder began the final period 8-0 and shortly cut the deficit to 15 at 61-76. A defiance ultimately crushed.

"Our team has the possibility of being very competitive. The consistency to do it game after game is the key." – Worthing coach Gary Smith.

"Thunder have nothing to lose. We knew in 2004 what it feels like to be new in the league. Expectations from fans, media and other people isn't high, so they can go out and play really loose." – Plymouth coach Gary Stronach.

"Plymouth are a top team but we'll be OK when we get to know each other." – Ryan Patton.

"I wasn't happy with my shooting tonight. But it's good the way the fans turn out to watch here." – Lijah Perkins

Thunder 80 (Patton 22, Ivanovskis 17, Perkins 12, Midgley 8), Plymouth
104 (Beckles 16, Moore 16, Love 15, Lasker 13, Martin 12, Durham 10, Beasley 10).

Star plays: Three blocked shots out of nowhere and trademark fadeaway baskets made by Woods. Key presence: Dan Midgley, the starting small-forward (with Ivanovskis, Perkins, Patton and James Brame).

Personnel change: Ciaran Burns and Daniel Hildreth will assist coach Gary Smith instead of the reportedly overpressed Chris Mayes.

Newcastle names to watch: GB captain Andrew Bridge, Darius Defoe, Andrew Bridge, Trey Moore, Reggie Jackson, Tafari Toney.

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Email the Herald: steve.bailey@worthingherald.co.uk