PREVIEW: 2 for 1 Sheffield basketball this Sunday!

BBL Championship

What’s better than a game of basketball? Two games of basketball of course! This Sunday, we’ve got a Sheffield double-header treat for you. At 1.30pm, the illustrious Sheffield Hatters take on the Newcastle Eagles in the WBBL, followed at 4.30pm by your B. Braun Sheffield Sharks matching up against the Eagles for the second weekend in succession. The Sharks were of course 66-59 victors over Newcastle in that Sky Sports game last week and go into Sunday looking to make it three wins on the bounce.

Sunday – Sharks v Eagles – Ponds Forge – 4.30pm

Tickets – Doubleheader – B Braun Sharks v Eagles / Hatters v Eagles Tickets, Sun 23 Oct 2022 at 13:30 | Eventbrite

Ones To Watch

Lesley Varner – Finished just short of a double-double for the Eagles last week with 12 points and 8 rebounds. Solid all-round game, claiming 2 steals and a blocked shot as well. Will undoubtedly be an asset for the Eagles this season.

Ben Mockford – Limited minutes for Newcastle last time but a danger man if firing on all cylinders. 33 year old shooting guard with a known three point threat. First capped by Great Britain in 2014 against Latvia and has an international best of 19 against Bosnia Herzegovina.

Javion Hamlet – Played all 40 minutes in last week’s encounter in The Tank. Looked Newcastle’s biggest scoring threat with 23 points as well as dishing out 5 assists, pulling down 3 rebounds and effecting a steal. Shot at 45% and was 100% from the line.

Duke Shelton – Second season on Tyneside for the 6’ 8” power forward who hails from Ocala, Florida. Averaged 14 points and 9.9 rebounds per game in 2021-22 Championship play and was one of the bright sparks in a disappointing season for the Eagles.

Last Meeting

October 14^th 2022 – B. Braun Sheffield Sharks (Koch 25 Nichols 11 Ogunyemi 8) 66 Newcastle Eagles (Hamlet 23 Varner 12 Kennedy 11) 59

Shark Bites

The Sharks swept the Eagles 5-0 last season. The last time this happened was the 1998-99 season.

During the last 4 seasons, the Sharks and Eagles have met in 11 Championship games with Newcastle having only one win.

The Sharks have won 8 of the last 11 home games against the Eagles in all competitions.

Last Friday was the 66^th time the Sharks have held their opponents below 60 points in all competitions.

The team with the most sub 60 point scores against the Sharks are Newcastle with 6 (including 2 in their former guise as Sunderland).

SharkNation

We’re celebrating the best of Sheffield hoops this Sunday in The Tank. One regular priced ticket gets you into two top quality games! Our good friends the Sheffield Hatters, who are currently 2-0 in the WBBL, entertain Newcastle Eagles in the 1.30pm tip off. The Hatters beat Durham Palatinates by an astonishing 97-43 last weekend so come on down and see if Coach Vanessa Ellis can steer her side to a third win in succession. Speaking of third wins, your B. Braun Sheffield Sharks will be looking for theirs as we take on the Newcastle mens team at 4.30pm. Your support was great down the stretch as you took us to the win in a tough one against the Eagles so you are very much needed once again. Click the link at the top of the page to secure your place at an awesome afternoon of Sheffield basketball. We’re all Sheffield aren’t we? #LetsGoHatters #FearTheFin

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Adam Bates