Friday 19th September 2025
Super League Basketball Championship
Bristol Flyers 78 B. Braun Sheffield Sharks 60
It was a tough opening night of season two of Super League Basketball for the B. Braun Sheffield Sharks as they succumbed to defeat at Bristol Flyers. A fine display of shooting from deep kickstarted the home side on their way to victory against the under-manned and injury-carrying Sharks as the Flyers led from start to finish. Of the Sharks more able-bodied roster, there were notable displays from Prentiss Nixon, Dirk Williams and Jalen DeLoach with the all-round game of William Lee catching the eye in particular. The Sharks must now re-group ahead of a visit to Leicester Riders next Friday evening.
Starting Fives
Flyers: Yoakum, Anderson Z, Holden, McCormack, Anderson J
Sharks: Williams, Nixon, Lee, Ratinho, DeLoach
Key Moments
The three point shot was an ally to the Flyers as they took a 10-2 lead. Joseph Anderson, Zach Anderson and Bristol skipper Owen McCormack all found success from deep with Will Yoakum joining the three-fest to make it 19-10. The Sharks edged their way back. An outrageous Prentiss Nixon assist off the glass for William Lee to slam home drew the Sharks to within five and when Nixon converted a trey in transition, the gap was just two at 19-17. Bristol pushed ahead once more however; Darnell Brodie hitting the eighth triple of the quarter to make it 25-19.
The Flyers made it a 13-1 run into the second period. Yoakum’s free throws extended the gap out to 35-20 before seven points from Dirk Williams redressed the balance and forced Bristol into a timeout. Nick Kern’s first points in a Sharks jersey were followed by a Rodney Glasgow trey as the visitors got within five once again. Baskets for Zach Anderson and Will Yoakum closed the half however with the score at 42-32.
The real damage was done in a 23-6 third quarter. Another 13-1 Bristol streak was capped by a long Zach Anderson triple and as DeLoach and Kern hobbled off court with knocks, Yoakum rubbed salt into the wounds with another three out of the corner at 62-35. McCormack’s three from the wing ended the stanza with the score at 65-38.
The Sharks shaded the final period by 13-22 but it was too little too late. The Flyers opened up a thirty point gap through Joseph Anderson in the corner and despite Bristol being in the penalty, the Sharks were unable to profit from the free throw line. Jalen DeLoach’s three and a Dirk Williams mid-ranger wrapped up the scoring but the Sharks had been comfortably beaten by 78-60.
MVP
The Sharks were well short of the Flyers 40% conversion rate from three and gave up eleven free throws from the line. Clearly hampered by injuries, a select bunch of Sharks players caught the eye. Jalen DeLoach returned a competent 13 points, 3 rebounds, 2 assists and a block on debut and offensive talisman Prentiss Nixon produced an all-round statline of 14 points, 2 rebounds, 5 assists, 2 steals and a block. Ever-involved was Dirk Williams, who ended with 12 points, 7 rebounds, 2 assists, 1 steal and 2 blocks but it was the debut of William Lee that took the MVP honours. His 8 point, 10 rebound, 1 assist, 1 steal outing came with 3 big blocked shots and an index of 16 to shade the award.
Next Game
Leicester Riders v B. Braun Sheffield Sharks, Friday 26th September 2025, Mattioli Arena, 7.30pm Tip Off
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Adam Bates
