Bounce back for Sharks with comprehensive Manchester victory

Monday 1st April 2024

British Basketball League Regular Season

Manchester Giants 64 B. Braun Sheffield Sharks 87

The B. Braun Sheffield Sharks bounced back from their Friday defeat with a very thorough takedown of Roses rivals, Manchester Giants. The Sharks took all four quarters as a strong defensive standpoint translated into five players posting up double-figure scores. Co-captain Bennett Koch gained the MVP honours but there were equally fine displays from Malek Green, Jalon Pipkins, Prentiss Nixon and Marcus Delpeche in the 64-87 success. The Sharks still hold sixth place with a 16-16 record but are now just a single win behind Newcastle and Leicester, who hold fourth and fifth respectively.

Starting Fives

Giants: Lee, Stampley, Anderson, Bourcier, Lewis.

Sharks: Ramsey, Eytle-Rock, Green, Ratinho, Koch.

Key Moments

Hosts Manchester, needing to win to retain a chance of making the playoffs, opened with a 9-2 start on William Lee’s three point shot. Jamell Anderson extended the lead at 12-4 in similar fashion but the Sharks went on a 0-11 run, begun by back-to-back Bennett Koch baskets and ended by Jalon Pipkins euro-stepping to the hoop at 12-15. A Rodney Glasgow trey and a pair of Prentiss Nixon free throws saw the Sharks take the opening quarter by 14-20.

A Nixon three in transition was followed by a Marcus Delpeche steal and basket as the run extended out to 2-23 with the scoreboard reading 14-27. Ten points from the Giants’ Evan Walshe attempted to keep the Lancastrians in touch but six from Malek Green and a closing Devearl Ramsey basket, saw the Sharks ahead by 28-37 at half time.

The Sharks turned up the intensity even further in the third period. Bennett Koch scored over the sizeable William Lee and then faked his way to the hoop to make it 33-45. Koch capped the whole range of moves with a mid-ranger and when Prentiss Nixon drained a three, the lead went out to fifteen at 40-55. Proving highly-effective once again was Marcus Delpeche. His putback dunk exacerbated Manchester’s problems and with their Coach Brian Semonian disqualified from the game at the end of the quarter, they looked to have a mountain to climb with the score at 43-60.

Delpeche continued to catch the eye at the top of the final stanza. He finished Jalon Pipkins’ assist on the alleyoop and then came up with a killer crossover before dunking home at 49-69. His 8 points in the quarter all but sealed the Sharks win and despite consolation triples for William Lee and Nicholas Lewis, the result was a foregone conclusion. The Giants’ frustrations continued as Lewis departed the game in the dying seconds and it was left to RJ Eytle-Rock to secure the 64-87 victory from the line.

MVP

A trademark team display took the Sharks to a fine win. Five Sharks made double-figure scoring. Prentiss Nixon chipped in with 12 points, 6 rebounds, 1 assist and 2 steals and after going 7 of 7 from the free throw line, Jalon Pipkins played his part for 13 points, 2 rebounds, 3 assists and 2 steals. Mr Consistency, Malek Green, led the Sharks scoring with a 15 point, 7 rebound outing and Marcus Delpeche sent himself into MVP contention with another very effective performance. His 12 points came on 6 of 7 shooting, with 5 rebounds and a steal for a leading index of 20. The league’s official MVP award went the way of Sharks co-skipper Bennett Koch. A return of 13 points came on 75% shooting as his polished game kept his side in contention for an important fourth placed finish.

Next game

Manchester Giants v B. Braun Sheffield Sharks, Sunday April 7th 2024, National Basketball Performance Centre, 6.00pm Tip Off.

Image

Adam Bates