Miracle of the Mattioli - Sharks send it into Game Three on Sunday

Saturday 4th May 2024

British Basketball League Playoff Quarter Final – Game Two

Leicester Riders 74 B. Braun Sheffield Sharks 77

The B. Braun Sheffield Sharks showed some serious heart and determination to send their playoff quarter final into a deciding game with a three point win on the road in Leicester. A clutch three point shot from Prentiss Nixon sealed the win with 1.6 seconds to go as the Sharks took the game by 74-77. The double-double machine Malek Green was the catalyst to the victory with 22 points and 11 rebounds as the two teams battle it out for a place in the semis at the Canon Medical Arena on Sunday afternoon.

Starting Fives

Riders: Thomas, Allen, Walker, Holmes, Russell.

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

Key Moments

The Riders used home court advantage to take an early 7-3 lead through Miryne Thomas. The same player kissed one off the glass to make it 16-9 but a Devearl Ramsey lay-up and a Prentiss Nixon corner three ensured the Sharks stayed in contention at 18-16. Leicester’s Jaren Holmes weighed in with three of his own but a tough Ramsey bucket concluded the period at 22-18.

The Sharks tied the game up at 24-24 as Nixon banked one home but the Riders pulled away once more through TJ Lall (and-one) and Conner Washington (3) to 35-28. Teddy Allen’s triple took the lead out to double digits at 40-30 but eight Jordan Ratinho points changed the complexion as the score became 45-38. That lead was cut even further as a Malek Green free throw ended the half at 47-41.

RJ Eytle-Rock brought the energy for the Sharks at the start of the second half. Six points that ended with a tidy floater cut the gap to 49-47. Momentum kept going the Sharks way as four Malek Green points were followed by a Marcus Delpeche basket to give the visitors a lead at 51-53. A typical Washington three levelled the contest once again at 55-55 but with points for Nixon and Pipkins, it was the Sharks who took a 56-60 lead into the final stanza.

The Sharks held a six point lead to the mid-point of the fourth quarter. A pair of quality finishes from Malek Green made it 64-70 before a huge Allen triple kept Leicester in touch. The Green party continued as the Sharks kept their noses in front at 69-74 but a tough finish in traffic by the Riders’ Samuel Idowu levelled the contest at 74-74. Cue some high drama – the Sharks wound the clock down to 1.6 seconds before Prentiss Nixon landed a clutch three pointer – Leicester rimming out on the final play with the score at 74-77.

MVP

The playmaking abilities of RJ Eytle-Rock and Devearl Ramsey set the Sharks on their road to the dramatic success. Six assists for Eytle-Rock and four for Ramsey allowed their team-mates to unlock the key to the Riders defence. Prentiss Nixon came up big in the clutch once more. His 15 points came with 6 rebounds, 7 assists and a block as well as that nerveless three pointer that sealed the win with just seconds to spare. The MVP however was Malek Green. He was relentless, particularly in the fourth quarter, en route to 22 points, 11 rebounds and an assist, which came on a very pleasing 10 of 13 shooting.

Next game

B. Braun Sheffield Sharks v Leicester Riders, Sunday 5th May 2024, Canon Medical Arena, 3.00pm tip off.

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

Image

Adam Bates