Double-header brings 2024 to a close

Super League Basketball Championship

The B. Braun Sheffield Sharks bring 2024 to a close with an intriguing double-header. Newcastle is the destination on Friday (27th December) to take on a much-improved Eagles side that are already 2-0 over the Sharks for the season. On Sunday (29th December), the Surrey 89ers come to the Canon Medical Arena, fresh from the recent encounter between the two sides where the Niners pushed the Sharks all the way. A big festive crowd is guaranteed for the Sunday home game as the Sharks look to head into the New Year on a high.

Friday – Eagles v Sharks – Vertu Motors Arena – 7.30pm

Watch - https://www.dazn.com/en-GB/fixture/ContentId:c6tozfojag0rfqdgh5av0z66s/c6tozfojag0rfqdgh5av0z66s

Ones To Watch

Mike Okauru – One of the keys to the Newcastle resurgence has been the form of Okauru. His 17.5 points per game come with 4.2 assists and 1.3 steals as well as an eye-catching field goal percentage of 51.9.

Seneca Knight – His form off the glass has been a welcome addition up in the North East. 7.5 boards per game have contributed to the Eagles effort under the hoop and he is no slouch from the line with 27 makes so far.

De’Sean Allen-Eikens – Bit of a glue guy for the Eagles and certainly not to be slept on. Effective across the entire statline with 14.5 points, 4.3 rebounds, 3.5 assists and 0.8 steals that shows that he offers a bit of everything to Newcastle.

Cole Long – Three point shooting is a key feature of Long’s game. A 56.5 shooting percentage from deep shows that you leave this guy unattended at your peril and he also makes a very useful 50% from inside.

Last Meeting

October 25th 2024 – B. Braun Sheffield Sharks 82 Newcastle Eagles 84

Sunday – Sharks v 89ers – Canon Medical Arena – 4.00pm

Tickets - https://app.fanbaseclub.com/Fan/Fixtures?fanStoreType=Fixtures&clubId=216

Ones To Watch

Jalen Ray – Effective scorer who is adding more than 16 points per game to a very solid looking Surrey roster. Absolutely deadly from the charity stripe with a huge 94.1% success rate.

Dame Adelekun – Phenomenal inside presence who recently went on a huge run of consecutive makes. His 73.2% conversion rate is testament to that and he is also hot off the boards to the tune of 7.3 per game.

Cam Gooden – Undersized guard but with an unerring accuracy, especially from downtown. Puts up very useful numbers for the Niners with 13.1 points, 4.9 boards, 5.6 assists and 1.1 steals.

Mervin James – If Surrey need a bucket, they give it to James. Makes his shots at a decent 47% clip as well as pulling down 5.6 rebounds. 15.3 points per game so far this season.

Last Meeting

December 8th 2024 – B. Braun Sheffield Sharks 93 Surrey 89ers 85

Shark Bites

Only Michael Brisker (London), Tyreek Scott-Grayson (Cheshire) and Nathan Cayo (Manchester) better the points per game tallies of Rodney Chatman III (18.4) and Newcastle’s Mike Okauru (17.5).

Chatman ranks as the fourth-best assist maker in the league, a full dime clear of his nearest Newcastle rival, Jordan Spencer, who sits in seventh.

Rodney’s fifty field goals made for the season tops the rankings although Surrey 89ers’ Mervin James is just eight behind on 42.

The roles are reversed in terms of free throws where Surrey’s Jalen Ray heads things up with 32, two ahead of Rodney, who sits in second place.

SharkNation

Celebrate the end of 2024 with the Sharks! Our game against Surrey is selling fast – the Sharks shaded a tough one against the Niners last time out and don’t forget we’ve got the amazing Barjots Dunkers as some added entertainment for you. Hit the link higher up the page to ensure you’ve got a seat at this festive holiday treat! Don’t forget the weekend starts up in Newcastle on Friday and if you can’t make it, the link to watch on DAZN live and for free is also higher up the page. Take a break from the turkey and the chocolates and get yourself down to the Canon Medical Arena – it’s time to #FearTheFin!

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Adam Bates