‘Allo ‘Allo! Rene guides Sharks to first win.

Friday 28^th September 2018

BBL Championship

DBL Sharks Sheffield 99 Surrey Scorchers 90

The DBL Sharks Sheffield claimed their first win of the new BBL season in a close-fought, thrilling encounter with Surrey Scorchers. It took a late fourth quarter burst, inspired by a pair of Mike Tuck three point scores, to break the back of a typically tough Scorchers effort. The Sharks move on to lengthy road trip to Bristol, looking to build on a display that showed the energy and passion that was lacking in their opening game.

Starting Fives

Sharks: Williams, Marsden, Castro-Caneddy, Hanson-Young, Tuck

Scorchers: Beck, Williams, Taylor, Ogedengbe, Steel

Key Moments

Hang-time from Dirk Williams on the finger roll gave the Sharks an 8-7 lead after three and a half minutes. There was nothing to separate the two sides as the first quarter ended tied at 24 each.

A steal and lay-up by Quincy Taylor saw Surrey take a ten point lead midway through the second period by 32-42. The Sharks replied in kind with a 15-4 run, punctuated by a Dirk Williams three point score to inch them in front at 47-46. Three’s from Tayo Ogedengbe and Caylin Raftopoulos saw Surrey back in the lead by 47-52 but a well-timed final play from Chris Alexander meant there was little to choose between the two at 51-52 come half time.

The sides traded for most of the third period until Matthew Don and Dirk Williams gave the Sharks a six point advantage at 72-66. Don came up with a two handed dunk on Williams assist at 74-66 before Demario Beck hauled Surrey back in touch at 74-70. The period ended on a high for the Sharks as Sedale Hanson-Young launched at the hoop from beyond the half court, to see the ball bounce vertically up from the hoop and drop through the net for a memorable three point score.

@sedale1996 with the DEEP #buzzbeater to end the 3rd Quarter!! #CountIt pic.twitter.com/FA0HHW3IFQ

— DBL Sharks Sheffield (@SheffieldSharks) September 28, 2018

The sides remained tied at 83-83 with five minutes remaining in the contest. A typically arc-ing Mike Tuck trey from the top of the key kick-started a Sharks burst and he followed that up a minute later with another as the Sharks opened up a 91-84 lead. Surrey frustrations grew in the face of a solid defensive effort from the home side and it was fitting that the final five points of the encounter came from eventual MVP Rene Castro-Caneddy with the score at 99-90.

MVP

Sharks Coach Atiba Lyons called for increased energy from his charges and he got the required response. Typical of this was Matthew Don. He finished tidily around the hoop and was active off the boards on his way to 12 points with 8 rebounds, a steal and a block. Coming off the bench to great effect was Chris Alexander. His twenty eight minutes of action saw 23 points, 4 rebounds, 4 assists and 2 steals in a display that was reminiscent of his age-defying antics of last season. On any other day, he would have been MVP had it not been for the performance of Rene Castro-Caneddy. The Duquesne grad shot 75% from the field on his way to 24 points, 1 rebound, 4 assists and 2 steals in only his second professional outing.

Quotes

Sharks skipper Mike Tuck concluded that it felt good to get the first win and implored his side to keep that mentality for the rest of the season.

Next Up

DBL Sharks Sheffield at Bristol Flyers, WISE Arena, 7.30pm Tip Off, Saturday 29^th September 2018.

Next Home Game

(Click image for tickets!)

Image

Andy Chubb