REPORT: Competitive Sharks fall just short in Leicester

Friday 21^st April 2023

BBL Championship

Leicester Riders 85 B. Braun Sheffield Sharks 76

The B. Braun Sheffield Sharks played their part in a highly-competitive penultimate fixture but just came up short as Leicester Riders took an 85-76 win. There were portents of what might be if the two teams eventually match up in the playoffs but despite the Sharks sharing the scoring once again, the Riders’ Marc Loving with 25 points saw the hosts to a confirmed second place league finish. The Sharks playoff seeding will now be decided in their final game against Bristol on Sunday.

Starting Fives

Riders: Loving, Whelan, Love, Jackson, Nelson-Henry.

Sharks: Nichols, Pipkins, Ratinho, Ramsey, Koch.

Key Moments

The opening quarter was a tight, defensive affair, embodying the ethos of both sides. Leicester’s Carrington Love cancelled out Devearl Ramsey’s opening basket as both sides went shot for shot until the mid-point of the stanza. The Riders took a slender lead on scores from Marc Loving and Zach Jackson at 12-8 but the Sharks reversed their fortunes, going up by 13-14 on a Kipper Nichols bucket. A Marc Loving three saw the period end at 16-14.

The Riders kept the momentum in the opening minutes of the second quarter. Loving’s corner three started an 11-2 run that was finished by the same player as he dunked home to make it 27-16. The Sharks were sparked into life in a nine point streak that included another trademark rim-wrecking dunk from Jalon Pipkins. Rodney Glasgow’s shot on the run cut the gap down to five at 30-25 and further successful attempts from Kipper Nichols and Marcus Delpeche saw that reduce to three at 32-29 by half time.

A technical foul called on Leicester Coach Rob Paternostro after the half time buzzer saw Devearl Ramsey open the second half from the line. Back to back baskets from Jordan Ratinho saw the visitors ahead once more at 32-34 as another trade in scores commenced. Patrick Whelan and Bennett Koch both opened their accounts for the night as a triple from Riders’ Kimbal Mackenzie tied things up at 51-51. Jubril Adekoya concluded an 11-1 run for the hosts but a three inside the final thirty seconds from the returning Sa’eed Nelson saw the game open to anyone at 57-55 with ten minutes to play.

The game turned on the Sharks running into foul trouble with 7.14 of the final quarter still to play. Leicester’s two point lead soon became nine at 70-61 following Jackson’s corner trey and that became double digits as the influential Loving completed the and-one to make it 75-65. The Sharks are made of stern stuff these days and Jalon Pipkins drew them to within four from the mid-range with the score at 77-73. The final thirty seconds brought a series of timeouts from Atiba Lyons and hopes were raised briefly as Sharks skipper Rodney Glasgow connected on a big three from the top of the key at 81-76. Mackenzie from the line and Jackson wrapped up the win for the Riders however; the 85-76 victory securing second place in the table for the midlanders.

MVP

Four Sharks jointly top-scored for the side, each making 12 points. Rodney Glasgow made 5 of his 8 shots, including the late triple that almost steered his side to an unlikely win. Marcus Delpeche added 4 rebounds and an assist to his 12, shouldering the bulk of the forward play with Bennett Koch sat on 4 fouls. The returning Sa’eed Nelson was typically busy. He filled his statline with 3 rebounds, 2 assists and 4 steals on a welcome return to action. The overall MVP contributed a ‘disgusting’ dunk in amongst his 12 points and looked the guy most likely to trouble Leicester in the paint. Jalon Pipkins also pulled down a BBL career high 7 boards to go with 2 assists and 4 steals as the Sharks main man on the night.

Next game

B. Braun Sheffield Sharks v Bristol Flyers, Sunday April 23^rd 2023, Ponds Forge, 4pm Tip Off.

Image

Adam Bates