PREVIEW: Road trip double for Sky high Sharks

BBL Championship

A Friday – Saturday double header to come this weekend after last Sunday’s terrific win in Plymouth. The B. Braun Sheffield Sharks go in front of the Sky Sports cameras once again, this time in the Midlands against reigning champions Leicester Riders on Friday evening. With no let-up in the schedule, the Sharks then head down to Guildford to take on the Surrey Scorchers on Saturday evening.

Friday – Riders v Sharks – Morningside Arena – 7.45pm

Watch – LIVE BBL! | Leicester Riders vs Sheffield Sharks | British Basketball League – YouTube

Ones To Watch

Patrick Whelan – Highly proficient shooter who went 7 of 8 from the field against Plymouth when the Riders played a fortnight ago. Exciting talent who is rapidly becoming established on the GB team.

Zach Jackson – Matched Whelan’s 18 points in the 79-101 win over Plymouth. Often goes under the radar but also pulled down 8 boards, dished out 2 assists and made 3 steals to cap a fine all-round performance.

Darien Nelson-Henry – Towering big man and Riders captain who was having shoulder a lot of responsibility in the injury-enforced absence of Mo Walker. Another statline-filled outing against the Patriots where he scored 17 points with 6 rebounds, 1 assist, 2 steals and a blocked shot.

Marc Loving – Another do-it-all guy for the Riders. Happy above the rim or from 3 point territory, he is currently averaging 15.8 points per game with 5.3 rebounds and 3.4 assists.

Last Meeting

October 30^th 2022 – B. Braun Sheffield Sharks (Nichols 20 Ratinho 10 Nelson 10 Koch 10) 72 Leicester Riders (Thornton 21 Whelan 16 Loving 15 Jackson 15) 86

Saturday – Scorchers v Sharks – Surrey Sports Park – 6.00pm

Watch – British Basketball League – YouTube

Ones To Watch

Ryan Martin – Recent signing who was influential in guiding the Scorchers to their first win of the season a fortnight ago against Newcastle. His 20 points included 6 of 7 successful trips to the free throw line as new Coach Lloyd Gardner’s men begin to find their feet.

Padiet Wang – South Sudanese forward who has been a bright spark in Surrey’s season so far. His 19 points, 9 rebounds and 5 assists torched the Eagles and added to growing season averages of 15.8 points, 6.8 rebounds and 4.5 assists.

Quincy Taylor – A recent homecoming for one of the most popular Scorchers point guards of recent seasons. Contributed 15 points to the 74-79 win over the Eagles on Tyneside.

Boban Jacdonmi – Former Glasgow Rock who has headed down south this season to hook up with Surrey. Very impressive centre who claimed 8 boards as well as 10 points in a landmark first win of the season against Newcastle.

Last Meeting

April 24^th 2022 – Surrey Scorchers (McLemore 17 Raftopoulos 15 Ogedengbe 13) 69 B. Braun Sheffield Sharks (Mvuezolo 17 Delpeche 16 Nichols 14) 83

Shark Bites

Friday will be the Sharks 1250^th match in the 4 BBL competitions. In the 1249 games played so far, the Sharks have 806 wins, 439 losses and 4 draws.

Friday will be the Sharks 14^th visit to the Morningside Arena where they have picked up 2 wins, 10 losses and a draw on their first ever visit in February 2016.

Marcus Delpeche will play his 50^th game for the Sharks on Friday. Over the timespan of Marcus’ Sharks career, nobody has more double doubles, although Aaron Anderson and Javion Ogunyemi match the total of 3.

The Sharks have won their last 7 encounters with Surrey. The last defeat was at Surrey Sports Park on 17^th February 2019.

SharkNation

Two more road games this weekend but the return to ‘The Tank’ is getting ever closer! If you want to see more ‘Delpeche Dunks’ and can’t travel with us then head over to Sky Sports on Friday and the BBL YouTube channel on Saturday, where you can take in both games. If you want to see the REAL THING, then don’t forget we are back at home on Sunday November 27^th when Caledonia Gladiators will be doing battle in the BBL Cup Quarter Final (B. Braun Sheffield Sharks v Caledonia Gladiators – BBL Cup Quarter Final Tickets, Sun 27 Nov 2022 at 16:00 | Eventbrite for tickets). We are the B. Braun Sheffield Sharks! #KnowOurName #FearTheFin

Image

Carol J Moir