Huge Milestone for Tuck but Sharks dip in Glasgow

Friday 17th January 2020

BBL Championship

Glasgow Rocks (Fraser 19 Malcolm 17 Pryor 13) 98 B. Braun Sheffield Sharks (Cashaw 17 Ndiaye 14 Koch 10) 61

Glasgow Rocks showed why they are in a rich vein of form with a sizeable take-down of the Sharks. Despite Captain Mike Tuck draining his 4000th point in the BBL Championship and the Sharks welcoming Eddy Brownell back to the roster, the Rocks locked down on defence to move to 6-2 in the table. The Sharks will re-group with a home game against leaders London Lions on Sunday.

Starting Fives

Rocks: Thorpe, Fraser, Pryor, Vinson, Murray.

Sharks: Lewis, Cashaw, McKnight, Tuck, Koch.

Key Moments

Canny Rocks Coach Vincent Lavandier marshalled his troops with a tough defensive display right from the off. Bennett Koch had tied matters with a neat spin move at 8-8 but Terrell Vinson’s three at 13-8 saw the Rocks begin to inch away. Bouna Ndiaye replied in kind for the Sharks at 20-11 but Ally Fraser’s bucket saw the quarter close at 22-11.

Rinkunas connected out of the corner at the beginning of the second quarter. The Sharks were left to feed on trips to the line; Bennett Koch coming in for some very close attention. Fraser Malcolm hit two three pointers in the last thirty seconds as the Rocks built up a 47-25 lead at half time.

Two Gareth Murray treys at the top of the third signalled Glasgow’s continued dominance with the score at 57-29. The brightest moment of the whole game came as skipper Mike Tuck nailed the triple from the top of the key that gave him 4000 points in the BBL Championship – eighth on the all-time scoring list. Despite further trips to the charity stripe, the Sharks were left with a mountain to climb with the score at 72-44.

Sadly, the Sharks couldn’t find a way back into the contest in the fourth stanza. Fraser Malcolm connected on four triples for his best ever BBL score for the Rocks of 17 as Bouna Ndiaye made 11 final quarter points, 8 from the line as the score closed at 98-61.

MVP

A night to forget for the Sharks as they were restricted to just 33 per cent from the field. Bennett Koch took the rough stuff for 10 points and 5 rebounds. Bouna Ndiaye made eight from nine attempts from the line on his way to 14 points overall. Connor Cashaw looked the most likely to break to Glasgow rearguard once more as he took the plaudits with 17 points, 5 rebounds and 3 assists.

Next home game

B. Braun Sharks v London Lions, Sunday 19th January 2020, Ponds Forge International Sports Centre, 4pm Tip Off

https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/b-braun-sheffield-sharks-v-london-lions-tickets-78636230081