PREVIEW: Sharks Cup journey heads up to Newcastle

BBL Cup Group Stage

Back to a single game weekend for the B. Braun Sheffield Sharks as on Friday they head up to the North East to take on the Newcastle Eagles. The Eagles were defeated by Glasgow Rocks in their opening group game last Friday by 72-82.

Friday – Sharks v Eagles – Vertu Motors Arena 7.30pm

Watch – www.bblplayer.co.uk

Ones To Watch

Duke Shelton – 26 year old 6’ 10” Centre from the University of Tampa with experience in Slovakia, Germany, Finland, Israel and Czech Republic. Top scored with 16 for the Eagles last Friday as well as claiming 11 rebounds.

Corey Johnson – Canadian who spent the last 2 years at Leicester Riders, where he was known for his offensive and defensive capabilities. Didn’t make any of his trademark three point shots last weekend but still pulled down a useful 9 rebounds in his first outing.

Rahmon Fletcher – Seventh season on Tyneside for the playmaker and two times league MVP. Averaged 19.3 points and 9.3 assists in the covid season of 2020-21 and contributed 15 points, 4 rebounds and 3 assists last week against Glasgow.

Darius Defoe – 36 year old veteran forward with an astonishing 27 pieces of silverware to his name from his 17 seasons with the Eagles. Will be looking to improve on his 4 points from last Friday but showed all his veteran wiles to claim 6 rebounds in his first competitive outing of the season.

Last Meeting

May 6^th 2021 – Newcastle Eagles (Gordon 25, Maxwell 19, Edwards 15) 81 B. Braun Sheffield Sharks (Nichols 20 Hemsley 15 Lillard / Ratinho 12) 81

Shark Bites

The Sharks are 6-3 against Newcastle Eagles in games played at the Vertu Motors Arena.

The Sharks have never scored less than 76 points at the same venue.

When the Sharks have scored 80 or more at this venue, they have a 5-1 record over the Eagles.

Marcus Delpeche became the 100^th player used by Coach Lyons in his Sharks coaching career when he entered the game last Friday.

Marcus contributed 14 points and 6 rebounds in our 64-71 loss to Cheshire last Friday but went one better with 15 / 7 in the 79-69 win in Glasgow on Sunday.

SharkNation

Your support in the Tank last Friday was unreal! We’re sorry we didn’t quite get that one over the line but we hope you enjoyed our win in Glasgow on Sunday. Catch us on the BBL Player this Friday if you can’t make it to Newcastle and don’t forget we need the Tank filling on Friday 8^th October when our Lancastrian rivals the Manchester Giants, including GB skipper Dan Clark, are our visitors. It’s good to have you back and it’s good to have Sharks basketball back as well!

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Adam Bates