PREVIEW: Sharks go under the spotlight this Friday

BBL Championship

We’re off and running! After registering that crucial first win last weekend, the B. Braun Sheffield Sharks welcome the Newcastle Eagles to the Tank this Friday for another game under the bright Sky Sports TV lights. The Eagles also registered their first dub last weekend, albeit in the BBL Cup, so both sides will be looking to start a climb up the Championship standings. Sharks – Eagles games have been legendary down the years and this one looks no different…

Friday – Sharks v Eagles – Ponds Forge – 7.45pm

Tickets – B. Braun Sheffield Sharks v Newcastle Eagles – BBL Championship Tickets, Fri 14 Oct 2022 at 19:30 | Eventbrite

Ones To Watch

David Cohn – A late replacement for Travon Broadway Jr, the 6’ 2” point guard has slotted in seamlessly after spells in Israel and Germany. Top scored with 21 in the 75-77 Cup win over Plymouth last Sunday, adding 3 rebounds, 5 assists and a steal to boot.

Jermel Kennedy – No stranger to the BBL having starred for the Worcester Wolves in 2016-17 where he averaged 12.7 points, 7.3 rebounds, 3.3 assists and 1.6 steals. Showed similar versatility last weekend against Plymouth with 11 points, 7 rebounds, 1 assist, 2 steals and 2 blocks.

Javion Hamlet – Former North Texas point guard who had a stint with the Texas Legends – the NBA G League affiliate of the Dallas Mavericks. Averaged 15 points per game for the Mean Green picking up honours aplenty and Eagles Coach Marc Steutel has high hopes of the 6’ 4” playmaker filling the sizeable shoes of Rahmon Fletcher, now with Manchester Giants of course.

Darius Defoe – The one constant in this Newcastle side, now back for his 19^th campaign on Tyneside. The 37 year old forward still managed an astonishing 27 appearances for the Eagles last season averaging 9 points, 3 rebounds and 2 assists per game and has only dipped below 25 appearances once in his 18 seasons so far.

Last Meeting

March 25^th 2022 – B. Braun Sheffield Sharks (Johnson 16 Ratinho 11 Delpeche / Koch 10) 73 Newcastle Eagles (Gordon 15 Fletcher 11 Williams 9) 53

Shark Bites

The Sharks have been victorious in the last five encounters with the Eagles.

Three of those wins have taken place in ‘The Tank.’

The margin of victory in those three games has been 21, 21 and 20 points respectively.

The only two Newcastle players that remain from that 73-53 win in March are Darius Defoe and Sauveur Kande.

Sa’eed Nelson’s 21 point, 7 rebound, 2 assist outing against Cheshire last Sunday on 8/13 shooting earned him a place on the weekly BBL All Star Five.

SharkNation

Ok so it took a little while to come but what a first win last weekend in Cheshire! Atiba, Rodney and the guys had a few near misses as we look to establish ourselves in the league this year but now we are off the mark, watch us go! Here’s where you come in – pack the seats, make the noise and that ‘W’ column will fill up rapidly! Get your tickets for Friday’s encounter with the Eagles at the ticket link at the top of the page. And we’re in front of the Sky Sports cameras once again so let’s show the whole country that the SharkNation is a force to be reckoned with! #FearTheFin

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Adam Bates