Sunday 12th April 2026
Super League Basketball Championship
London Lions 81 B. Braun Sheffield Sharks 60
The B. Braun Sheffield Sharks ran into the immovable object in league champions London Lions, who took a 21 point victory in the Copperbox Arena on Sunday afternoon. Only two Lions made it into double figure scoring but such is the depth of their squad, they looked good value for the 81-60 win. Twelve points in the final quarter propelled Dirk Williams to a useful final total of 20 but the exertions of a fine showing on Friday night took their toll on Atiba Lyons’ side. The Sharks maintain their fourth place in the table ahead of another double header against Newcastle and Leicester to follow next weekend.
Starting Fives
Lions: Williams J, Rai, Phillip, Williams D, Reynolds Jr.
Sharks: Williams, Chatman III, Ratinho, Kern Jr, Alihodzic.
Key Moments
It was clear it was going to be another tough afternoon against the stacked Lions as they went into a 5-0 lead on GB international Tarik Phillip’s three. Rodney Chatman III closed the gap to 8-5 but the Sharks became reliant on Fahro Alihodzic drawing fouls to stay close at 16-9. Joel Scott converted on Jordan Williams’ assist to put London up by 20-11 and a big three from Chaundee Brown Jr concluded a tough first period at 23-15.
The Lions took the second quarter by 25-13. A frustrating call led to a technical foul call on Coach Lyons which was followed shortly after by Shavar Reynolds Jr draining the triple from the wing to make it 32-17. Reynolds found success from the opposite wing shortly after and when Ciaran Sandy converted his open trey at 44-21, things looked desperate for the Sharks. Late baskets from Nick Kern Jr and Mike Ochereobia eased the pressure somewhat but the half time scoreline of 48-28 told its own tale.
The third quarter was an altogether more defensive affair but London still held sway. Triples from Dirk Williams (x2) and Prentiss Nixon showed the Sharks playing the game at their tempo but they were interspersed by a reply from Lions’ big Ethan Price. Aaryn Rai found the rim twice late in the period with London still in front by 65-39.
The Sharks rallied to take the final stanza by 5 points thanks to a hot-handed spell from Dirk Williams but it was a case of too little too late. London went up by 27 on Amin Adamu’s corner trey but a Williams’ banked triple followed, shortly followed by another big shot from the wing at 73-51. A pair of neat floaters capped 12 points in the quarter for the Sharks number one and despite Jordan Ratinho opening his account on the last play of the game, it was London who recorded another solid 81-60 success.
MVP
Getting the early work done was Fahro Alihodzic, who went 5 of 8 from the free throw line to end with 5 points and 7 boards as the Sharks initial threat. Nick Kern Jr was his usual ebullient self and only the second Shark into double figures with his 10 points, 6 rebounds and 2 assists. With a third of the Sharks points on his own, the standout was Dirk Williams. Twelve of his 20 came in the final quarter as an electric spell saw him end with four triples as well as 2 rebounds, 1 steal and 3 blocked shots despite his side slipping to their 13th defeat of regular season.
Next Game
Newcastle Eagles v B. Braun Sheffield Sharks, Friday 17th April 2026, Vertu Motors Arena, 7.30pm Tip Off.
Image
Adam Bates
