REPORT: Final quarter Manchester rally edges out Sharks

Friday 16^th December 2022

BBL Championship

B. Braun Sheffield Sharks 83 Manchester Giants 92

The B. Braun Sheffield Sharks went down to a nine point defeat against old rivals Manchester Giants in the first game of a pre-Christmas double header. The game was evenly poised for three quarters but the Giants eventually found their shooting form with a 28-19 final stanza to claim an 83-92 victory. The Sharks now move to 7-8 ahead of Sunday’s visit of Plymouth City Patriots.

Starting Fives

Sharks: Nichols, Banks, Ratinho, Glasgow, Koch.

Giants: Robertin, Green, Williams, Roberson, Fletcher.

Key Moments

The Sharks were uncharacteristically slow out of the traps as the free-scoring Mancunians took immediate advantage. Rahmon Fletcher’s step away two took them to a 0-8 lead and six Tajh Green points saw that difference increase at 6-18. The revival began through Kipper Nichols and Javion Ogunyemi. Four from Nichols and six from Ogunyemi saw the Sharks make in-roads. Nichols euro-stepped his way to the hoop and then made a three to close the gap at 21-23. Baskets for Legend Robertin and former Shark Nicholas Lewis ended the quarter at 21-27 in the Giants favour.

A more Sheffield-like performance played out in the second period. Bennett Koch turned his man inside-out and then tied up the encounter at 27-27. The Sharks took their first lead on Marcus Delpeche’s steal and dunk at 33-31 as the sides traded baskets right up to half time. Another four points for Green inched Manchester back ahead but two Kipper Nichols scores saw the half end with little to choose between the teams at 44-45.

The busy Green landed the Giants first three point shot at the start of the third quarter and when another former Shark, Dirk Williams followed suit, Manchester had edged in front by 48-53. Javion Ogunyemi continued to plough his own furrow to keep the Sharks in touch. He claimed three more baskets, interspersed with a Jordan Ratinho corner trey and the now-obligatory Marcus Delpeche alleyoop as the gap became just two at 62-64. A Delpeche putback on the buzzer levelled the scores once more and set up an intriguing final stanza.

The game escaped the Sharks in the fourth quarter. The three point shots began to drop for the Lancastrians through Lewis and Williams as an eight point gap opened up at 71-79. Channel Banks got in on the act for the Sharks but Fletcher and Robertin extended the differential to ten at 78-88. A long Nichols two and a Ratinho corner triple saw the final minute approach at 83-88 but with the clock ticking down, a series of missed shots resulted in the Sharks needing to stop the clock through fouls. Kipper Nichols three attempt failed out of a late timeout as Lewis claimed his thirteenth point of the quarter to cap an 83-92 win for Manchester.

MVP

There were season-highs in rebounds for Rodney Glasgow (7) and assists for Jordan Ratinho (9) but the Sharks were unable to halt the offensive threat of Manchester for the full forty minutes. The Sharks dished out 29 assists in total as two players caught the eye. Kipper Nichols top scored for the South Yorkshire side with 21 points as well as contributing 5 assists to the team-high effort. The MVP award went the way of ‘Mr Consistency’ Javion Ogunyemi however. He made 8 of his 12 shots as well as 3 from the line on his way to 19 points, 9 rebounds, 2 assists, 2 steals and 2 blocked shots. That the Sharks failed to keep up their usual defensive intensity, especially in the fourth quarter, saw them lose out on this occasion.

Post Game Interview

Sharks Coach Atiba Lyons spoke of his disappointment at the result post-game.

Next game

B. Braun Sheffield Sharks v Plymouth City Patriots, Sunday December 18^th 2022, Ponds Forge, 4.00pm Tip Off.

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Adam Bates