REPORT: Determined Sharks take resounding win over Newcastle

Sunday 23^rd October 2022

BBL Championship

B. Braun Sheffield Sharks 87 Newcastle Eagles 62

The B. Braun Sheffield Sharks completed their biggest win against Newcastle Eagles since April 9^th 2004 with a resounding 87-62 victory on Sunday afternoon. Another close game was anticipated following a much tighter win the previous week but the Sharks were in determined mood and behind six double figure scores, including 14 from MVP Channel Banks Jr, the South Yorkshire side climbed up to fourth in the BBL Championship table.

Starting Fives

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

Eagles: Hamlet, Defoe, Kennedy, D Johnson, Cohn.

Key Moments

Newcastle, buoyed by the signings of Kyle Johnson and Denzel Ubiaro, made a good start taking the score out to 2-8 on Javion Hamlet’s basket. It took a pair of Sa’eed Nelson free throws to kickstart the Sharks into life and things progressed even further when Jordan Ratinho’s three point shot wiped it’s feet before dropping through the hoop. The two sides traded baskets to the end of the quarter before trips to the line for Javion Ogunyemi and Marcus Delpeche took the Sharks into a 24-19 lead. Hamlet’s buzzer beater saw Newcastle narrow the gap by two at the quarter end.

The stellar defence of late shown by the Sharks was key to the home side taking a twelve point lead by half time. Delpeche saw the Eagles into a timeout, having stripped back his own initial shot to make it 31-23 and Kipper Nichols extended that lead to ten soon after. Channel Banks drained a corner triple from Ratinho’s assist at 39-25 as Ogunyemi and Ratinho piled further pressure on Newcastle to make that 42-28. Cohn found the hoop on the buzzer but the only real concern the Sharks had was the growing foul count by half time.

A closer third quarter played out but the Sharks were still well in command. Marcus Delpeche continued a fine shooting night, making the and-one at 47-34 and a long 2 a minute later as that became 52-38. It was Newcastle’s turn to feel the sharp end of the referee’s calls as Darius Defoe, Jermel Kennedy and Donovan Johnson all moved on to four fouls and with the Eagles firmly in the penalty, Kipper Nichols took the Sharks out to a 62-47 lead by the end of the stanza.

A 25-15 final period saw the Sharks to a resounding victory. Channel Banks opened with a perfect three from the line and hit his final trey as the lead became 22 at 71-49. The Eagles game unravelled as Defoe fouled out, prompting a technical for Newcastle coach Marc Steutel. Donovan Johnson went the same way less than a minute later as the Sharks began to press home their advantage. Bennett Koch jammed home one handed down the lane to make it 82-54 and converted once again on Nate Montgomery’s assist at 87-60. Lesley Varner made the final score of the game but it was in vain as the Sharks were fully deserving of their 25 point margin of victory.

MVP

Six Sharks finished with double figure scores in an outstanding team performance. Bennett Koch (10) and Kipper Nichols (12) were the outliers and there was a fine shooting night for Marcus Delpeche, who claimed a season high 14, making 5 of his 7 attempts from the field. There was a second double double of the season for Sa’eed Nelson with 12 points and 10 assists and a third for Javion Ogunyemi, who poured in 14 points as well as pulling down 11 rebounds. The MVP award went the way of Channel Banks Jr, however. Having missed the previous weeks game through injury, he showed no ill-effects on his way to 14 points, 2 rebounds, 2 assists and a steal, making 3 of his 5 three point shots and going a perfect 3 from 3 from the line.

Post Game Interview

Javion Ogunyemi spoke of a good team win and the upward trajectory of the Sharks after the game.

Next game

B. Braun Sheffield Sharks v London Lions, Friday October 28^th 2022, Ponds Forge, 7.30pm Tip Off.

Image

Adam Bates