REPORT: Dry fourth quarter sees Sharks go down in Newcastle

Friday 3^rd February 2023

BBL Championship

Newcastle Eagles 84 B. Braun Sheffield Sharks 70

A barren fourth quarter cost the B. Braun Sheffield Sharks dearly as hosts Newcastle Eagles claimed an 84-70 victory. The game was decidedly in the balance with six minutes remaining but a 24-6 end to the contest saw the Tynesiders take their first win of the series with one game still to play. The Sharks must now dust themselves off as they continue their journey north to Caledonia Gladiators on Sunday.

Starting Fives

Eagles: Johnson, Hamlet, French, Gordon, Cohn.

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

Key Moments

The tone for a game where there was little between the two teams for three quarters was set in the opening stanza. Steals from Sa’eed Nelson, Kipper Nichols and Devearl Ramsey all resulted in baskets as the Sharks took a 7-8 lead but threes from Newcastle’s Javion Hamlet and David Cohn saw the hosts with a 13-12 advantage. Ramsey made hay from beyond the arc as the Sharks went up by 18-21 but a Darius Defoe basket and a Hamlet free throw saw the quarter end at 21-21.

A 0-8 run at the start of the second period that included triples from Nichols and Nelson saw the Sharks threaten to open up a gap at 23-29. Six Hamlet points saw parity restored before Tyrn Flowers, Kipper Nichols and Newcastle’s GB guard Kyle Johnson put up big shots that saw the Sharks two to the good at 37-39. Hamlet continued to cause the Sharks problems – his six points to the end of the half saw Newcastle with a slender 43-41 advantage.

The back and forth nature of the game continued throughout the third quarter. The normally freescoring Justin Gordon made his first points of the encounter for Newcastle with an and-one play at 50-48 but Kipper Nichols went with the shake and bake on his way to a long two that put the Sharks back ahead by 52-54. Two points was to remain the difference at the end of the stanza; Newcastle’s Denzel Ubiaro making the score 58-60 from the line.

The Sharks went up by four on Rodney Glasgow’s basket early in the fourth quarter but the Eagles Great Britain guard Ben Mockford finally came to the contest with a big three and a long two that put the home side up by 67-64. A 10-0 run ended on Nelson’s score at 73-66 but the Sharks shots began to dry up from thereon in. Mockford hit a further two 3 pointers and a trip to the line for Johnson, who made 24 points on the night, saw Newcastle to an 84-70 win.

MVP

Devearl Ramsey again delighted with his speed of thought and foot on his way to 11 points, 6 rebounds, 2 assists and 3 steals. Kipper Nichols couldn’t quite carry his side home but finished with 19 points, 1 rebound, 2 assists and 2 steals. The MVP also used his turn of pace and tried to facilitate his team-mates but sadly without success this time round. Sa’eed Nelson finished with 20 points, 6 rebounds, 5 assists and 2 steals as the Sharks dropped to an 8-14 record.

Next game

Caledonia Gladiators v B. Braun Sheffield Sharks, Sunday February 5^th 2023, Emirates Arena, 5.00pm Tip Off.

Image

Adam Bates