PREVIEW: Huge return home for Sharks on Friday
BBL Championship
We’ve had some pretty big games this season but this one ranks right up there! The B. Braun Sheffield Sharks welcome Surrey Scorchers to Ponds Forge for the second game in the four match series. The Scorchers already look like being one of the Sharks nearest rivals for a playoff place and to add further to the intrigue, the Sky Sports cameras will be in town. The Sharks are going to be seeing a lot of Lloyd Gardner and his men before March is out – time to protect home court!
Friday – Sharks v Scorchers – Ponds Forge – 7.45pm
Ones To Watch
Kyle Carey – The Scorchers guard had a game against Plymouth last Friday! His 33 points saw him miss only one shot, going 6 of 7 from deep. With 5 assists as well, his efforts were in vain as Surrey went down in overtime.
Padiet Wang – The South Sudanese has been the consistent factor on the Surrey roster all season long. Packed the statline with an outstanding 16 point, 11 assist double-double that also included 4 rebounds and 3 steals but couldn’t prevent the Scorchers going down to a 95-105 loss against the visiting Patriots.
Ryan Martin – Forward who likes to impose himself on the boards. 8 points, 10 rebounds and 6 assists in the Plymouth thriller, which compares favourably with his season stats of 11.8 points and 6.2 rebounds.
Andrew Lawrence – Guard with extensive European and Great Britain experience. Still finding his way back from injury but using all his knowledge to contribute 10.8 points and 4.3 assists to Surrey’s cause.
Last Meeting
November 19th 2022 – Surrey Scorchers (Taylor 12 Martin 12 Wang 11) 54 B. Braun Sheffield Sharks (Banks 15 Nelson 13 Ratinho 12) 60
Shark Bites
The Sharks go into Friday’s game with the Scorchers having won the previous eight encounters between the teams. A Sharks win will equal their best ever winning streak against the Surrey franchise at nine.
The Sharks have won their last seven home games with Surrey. The Scorchers last win in South Yorkshire was on 29th September 2017.
As Coach of the Sharks, Atiba Lyons lost his first four encounters with the Surrey franchise. Subsequently his record is 31 wins and 8 losses.
Jalon Pipkins became the sixth player to wear shirt number 5 after Iain McKinney wore it in the Sharks first twelve seasons until his retirement after the 2005-2006 season. The previous five are Sherman Rivers, Paul Williams, Steve Gordon, Eddy Brownell and Johde Campbell.
SharkNation
It seems like an age since we’ve been at Ponds Forge but this Friday, we are back! We need the SharkNation to pack the Tank because games don’t come any bigger than this one…and we’re on TV as well! Come and roar your B. Braun Sharks on to glory as we go in search of that all important playoff place against one of our nearest rivals in the Scorchers. And of course, our thrilling new signing Jalon Pipkins will be in the house, hoping to replicate that terrific three point shooting he displayed on debut last weekend. Get down to Ponds Forge and become our noisy sixth man – we can’t emphasise enough how much we need you guys! We are the B. Braun Sheffield Sharks – it’s time to #FearTheFin
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Adam Bates
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