Miraculous Sharks comeback but Caledonia win in overtime

Sunday 22nd October 2023

British Basketball League Regular Season

Caledonia Gladiators 87 B. Braun Sheffield Sharks 83 (1OT)

The B. Braun Sheffield Sharks put in a superhuman effort to force overtime against Caledonia Gladiators in Scotland but ultimately lost out by just 4 points. A 21-5 run to the end of regulation time that included 5 triples saw the game into the additional five minutes but 11 points from the Gladiators’ Lukas Palyza took the hosts to an 87-83 win. As a result, the Sharks now move to 4-5 in the standings.

Starting Fives

Gladiators: DuBose, Onwas, Whelan, Palyza, Alihodzic.

Sharks: Ramsey, Pipkins, Ratinho, Nichols, Koch.

Key Moments

Caledonia took an early 8-2 lead on a Patrick Whelan basket but the Sharks fought back strongly to tie the game at 10-10 on Jordan Ratinho’s corner three. A tough Whelan trey restored the Scots lead and they extended that to six points on Clifton Moore Jr’s jumpshot at 20-14. An RJ Eytle-Rock three ensured that the Sharks were not too far away as the quarter came to a close.

The second period was equally as tight. Moore again put the Glads ahead by 27-19 but threes from Kipper Nichols, Devearl Ramsey and Jordan Ratinho were a feature of a 2-10 run as the Sharks drew level at 29-29. Nichols slammed home to give Atiba Lyons’ side the lead but as the teams traded baskets to half time, it was Caledonia’s Czech international Palyza who saw the hosts into the locker room at 35-33.

A 25-13 third stanza looked to have put Caledonia in with a strong chance of a straight-forward victory. After the Scots opened on a 6-0 run, a Jalon Pipkins highlight reel dunk kept things relatively close at 45-41. GB international Patrick Whelan and Serbian Mihailo Jovicic both connected from downtown as an eleven point gap opened up at 53-42 and three points from the line by Trent Buttrick saw the Gladiators in front by 60-46 with 10 minutes to go.

That lead became 16 when Ian DuBose eurostepped to the hoop at 66-50 but then began the mother of all comebacks by the Sharks. Back to back triples from Ratinho and Jubril Adekoya started the recovery and a crucial three from Pipkins late in the shot clock capped a 3-18 run at 69-68. Pipkins proved he had ice in his veins as a further trey with 7.4 seconds to play saw the game go to overtime at 71-71.

11 points from Lukas Palyza in overtime sealed a tense Caledonia win. He opened with a corner three and made three from the line as the Gladiators went up by 77-71. Ramsey’s drive to the hoop meant the Sharks were not yet done at 82-77 but Palyza’s second three of the period gave the home side a challenging advantage. Kipper Nichols had other ideas with a tough triple of his own but it was Palyza’s pair from the charity stripe that secured an 87-83 win for the Scots.

MVP

Kipper Nichols continued his solid form of late, shooting 62% on his way to 16 points, 5 rebounds, 3 assists and a steal. Jalon Pipkins came in for some close attention from the Gladiators but broke out later in the game to finish with 17 points, 3 rebounds, 2 assists and 2 steals. The MVP was a bundle of energy as ever, influencing the game at both ends of the court. Devearl Ramsey led the Sharks scoring with 20 points on 8 of 12 shooting, as well as pulling down 5 rebounds, making 4 assists and effecting 2 steals as his side fell short by the narrowest of margins.

Next game

Plymouth City Patriots v B. Braun Sheffield Sharks, Wednesday October 25th 2023, Plymouth Pavilions, 7.30pm Tip Off.

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Adam Bates