Friday 31st October 2025
Super League Basketball Championship
Manchester Basketball 87 B. Braun Sheffield Sharks 75
It was by no means a Halloween horror show but the B. Braun Sheffield Sharks might be starting to think that someone is playing tricks on them. The loss of Prentiss Nixon to an ankle injury after only a minute and a half of play was the latest injury setback as the remaining eight man roster battled away gamely against Manchester Basketball to go down by 12 at 87-75. The damage was done in a 27-6 second quarter by the Lancastrians despite a superhuman haul of 27 points from Rodney Chatman, who attempted to carry the Sharks offence on his back. The Sharks now turn their attentions to Sunday afternoon when Bristol Flyers are the visitors to the Canon Medical Arena.
Starting Fives
Manchester: Smith Jr, Jones, Osabuohien, Irvin, Henry.
Sharks: Williams, Nixon, Chatman, Ratinho, DeLoach.
Key Moments
The game began extremely brightly for the Sharks. Rodney Chatman’s successful and-one was followed by Prentiss Nixon banking home a three as the visitors went up by 0-6. That was to be the last part Nixon played in the game, being forced to put his civvies back on and hobbling around on crutches following what appeared to be an ankle injury. Chatman’s hot hand continued however, draining another triple to make it 6-13 and extending the lead to ten at 12-22 following another and-one. William Lee effected a smart steal and dunk to keep the Sharks in front by 16-25 as Manchester closed the gap by the end of the quarter from the line through Kaiyem Cleary at 20-25.
A 14-0 run across the quarters saw Manchester take charge. Kyle Carey’s corner three and Jordan Johnson’s steal and bucket at the start of the second period drew the home side level and they took the lead through Cleary, who worked the baseline for his and-one play. The Sharks sole replies came from Jalen DeLoach, Nick Kern Jr and Dirk Williams as Patrick Smith Jr, Jordan Johnson and Kayne Henry hit big shots from deep in a 27-6 stanza that saw Manchester into a 47-31 half time advantage.
The Sharks delivered their utmost in the third period, getting to within five points at one stage, before fatigue began to take its toll. DeLoach’s dunk from Chatman’s looping assist saw Manchester calling for time at 54-43 and another pair of and-ones from the Sharks influential guard saw the Yorkshire side draw ever closer at 58-52. Rodney Glasgow’s hook shot made it a two possession game at 60-55 but nine points from Kaiyem Cleary to the quarter end saw Manchester re-establish a decent 69-57 lead.
The final quarter was tied but given Manchester’s existing lead, it was they who would take a 12 point win. Cleary and Oluwaseyi Adetukasi both found the net from beyond the arc and despite a couple of late William Lee treys, it was the team from the Red Rose county who would claim an 87-75 success.
MVP
The clearly short-handed Sharks still managed to win the battle of the boards by 32-33 but the loss of volume-scorer Nixon more than likely had an impact on the final result. William Lee ended with 10 points, 3 rebounds and 3 steals for the Sharks and his point total was slightly bettered by Jalen DeLoach, who finished with 12 points, 4 boards, 2 assists and a steal in a hard-working display. The Sharks MVP attempted to carry the offence on his back but it was even too much for him despite his colossal endeavours. Rodney Chatman III’s 27 points came on 63% shooting and included a dead-eye 12 of 14 from the free throw line. The Sharks were positive 3 while ever Chatman was on court but looked understandably jaded given their lack of fit personnel.
Next Game
B. Braun Sheffield Sharks v Bristol Flyers, Sunday 2nd November 2025, Canon Medical Arena, 4.00pm Tip Off.
Image
Josh Rackham
