Friday 1st May 2026
Super League Basketball Playoff Quarter Final 1st leg
Leicester Riders 78 B. Braun Sheffield Sharks 81
The B. Braun Sheffield Sharks will take a slender three point lead into the second leg of their quarter-final playoff tie with Leicester Riders. A defiant Sharks outfit claimed a ten point half time lead but saw hosts Leicester fight back strongly in the third quarter. The teams were barely separated by a single possession for most of the final period but the Sharks took the last three points to record an important 78-81 win. The Sharks were driven on by the experienced Fahro Alihodzic and rookie Nick Kern Jr, who scored 18 and 19 points respectively ahead of Sunday’s decider at the Canon Medical Arena.
Starting Fives
Riders: Johnson, Evee, Menzies, Ndoukou, Boardman-Raffet.
Sharks: Williams, Nixon, Ratinho, Kern Jr, Alihodzic.
Key Moments
The Sharks were in determined mood early in the contest. Nick Kern Jr’s throwdown gave them a 3-8 advantage and with Fahro Alihodzic converting Dirk Williams’ assist, things looked healthy at 9-17. Kern’s corner trey extended that to 11-20 but the Sharks slipped into the bonus as Michael Joiner restored some pride for the Riders out of the corner at 16-22. The Sharks had the last laugh – Rodney Chatman III assisting to Kern’s alleyoop as the quarter closed at 18-27.
Leicester finally found their offence early in the second quarter. Xavier Bledson followed by Victor Ndoukou hit shots from deep as the gap reduced to 29-31. Daylight opened up again as Chatman completed an and-one play followed by Rodney Glasgow Jr and Jordan Ratinho nailing threes that took the score out to 37-46. Riders’ talisman Flynn Boardman-Raffet found success from the corner but a Glasgow triple inside the final thirty seconds saw the Sharks very pleased with the 41-51 half time scoreline.
The Riders reaction was marked after the break. A 10-0 streak drew them to within 2 at 51-53 with Boardman-Raffet key on the three ball. A steal saw Keddy Johnson level the game at 55-55 and it remained as such until the final 3 seconds when the former Bristol Flyer made two from the line to give the hosts their first lead of the game at 63-61; a quarter score of 22-10 telling its own tale.
Barely a single possession separated the two sides for most of the final stanza. Travis Evee made it a one point affair at 69-70 before Rodney Chatman drove his way to the rim to make it 69-74. Again, Evee and Johnson shut down the advantage and going into the final minute, Aaron Menzies levelled from the line for Leicester at 78-78. The Riders descent into the penalty allowed the Sharks to wrap up an on-the-night win. Alihodizic made one from the line and Dirk Williams’s mid-ranger closed the encounter with the score at 78-81.
MVP
A fine exhibition of playoff basketball saw a close-fought contest and left the Sharks with no doubt that they will need to be equally as thirsty on Sunday afternoon if they are to progress to the semi-finals. The returning Rodney Chatman III was a useful 5 of 8 from inside the arc as he finished with a pleasing 14 points, 3 rebounds and 3 assists. Fahro Alihodzic continued to impress with a very measured 18 points, 7 rebounds, 1 assist and 1 block and didn’t miss a shot until 3.08 into the third period. The MVP however was the athletic Nick Kern Jr. He bettered Alihodzic’s total by one as well as ripping down 6 boards and claiming 3 assists, 2 steals and a blocked shot in another all-action display.
Next Game
B. Braun Sheffield Sharks v Leicester Riders, Sunday 3rd May 2026, Canon Medical Arena, 4.00pm Tip Off.
Image
Josh Rackham
