REPORT: Defensive masterclass sees Sharks to stunning first win

Sunday 9^th October 2022

BBL Championship

Cheshire Phoenix 49 B. Braun Sheffield Sharks 62

The B. Braun Sheffield Sharks registered their first win of the BBL Championship season by coming from 13 down to restrict the home town Cheshire Phoenix to under 50 points for only the fourth time in north west side’s history. The Sharks battled an early deficit and a high foul count to respond with a defensive masterclass in claiming the 49-62 success. In the sixth lowest game total in BBL history, all the more remarkable was the 21 point haul for Sharks point guard Sa’eed Nelson.

Starting Fives

Phoenix: Austin, Daniels, Anderson, Ochereobia, Teague.

Sharks: Nelson, Nichols, Ratinho, Glasgow Jr, Koch.

Key Moments

The first quarter couldn’t have started in worse fashion for the Sharks. Two fouls for Bennett Koch were an early sign of the calls to follow as Cheshire took a 13-1 lead with the Sharks already in the penalty. A Marcus Delpeche rimwrecker got the Sharks on the board from open play but a Lloyd Daniels ‘and one’ saw the ‘Nix in front by 16-3. Javion Ogunyemi replied in kind and a long two from Sa’eed Nelson restored some credibility to the scoreboard but Jordan Strawberry from the line saw Cheshire on the high side by 20-12 at the end of the quarter.

The Sharks restored parity by half time with a 12-20 stanza. Nelson went coast to coast to pull Sheffield to within two at 24-22 and with a long two and a trip to the line, that soon became 27-26. Even when the Phoenix inched in front by 31-26, Nelson came up with one of only two three point shots that the Sharks connected with all night. That thirteen deficit became a lead of one on Nelson’s ‘and one’ play at 31-32 and it took a free throw from Larry Austin to send the teams in level at the interval.

There was no let up in the defensive intensity at the start of the third period as typified by the block from Bennett Koch on the sizeable Tahjai Teague. The Phoenix committed a shot clock violation three and a half minutes in and the three in transition from Jordan Ratinho emphasised the determination of the Sharks at 32-39. Will Neighbour made a trademark triple before the experienced Jamell Anderson claimed the extra point that hauled Cheshire back to within a single point. Four Daniels points restored their lead but a late Ogunyemi bucket saw the Sharks back up by 42-43 going into the final period.

Several players walked a foul tightrope at the start of the fourth quarter and Anderson’s three made it 47-48 with six minutes to go. Cheshire entered the penalty not long after as another Nelson basket on a delicious assist from Channel Banks saw the Sharks steal a march at 49-54. Cheshire’s Jamell Anderson and the Sharks’ Kipper Nichols both hit their foul limit but successful trips to the line for Bennett Koch, Sa’eed Nelson and Rodney Glasgow underlined the Sharks decision to keep driving into the paint to claim a famous 49-62 victory.

MVP

The Sharks took only eight shots from beyond the arc all evening as inside work proved to be the key to a memorable win. In a low scoring game, there were valuable contributions from Rodney Glasgow (7), Bennett Koch (7) and Javion Ogunyemi (9 points, 6 rebounds). However, having made nearly a third of the Sharks total output, the MVP award went the way of Sa’eed Nelson. His 21 points on 8 of 13 shooting as well as a very useful 7 rebounds, 2 assists and a steal saw the plaudits go his way for the second time in this fledgling campaign.

Next game

B. Braun Sheffield Sharks v Newcastle Eagles, Friday October 14^th 2022, Ponds Forge, 7.30pm Tip Off.

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Adam Day