REPORT: Flyers loss sees Sharks playoff match-up confirmed

Sunday 23rd April 2023

BBL Championship

B. Braun Sheffield Sharks 65 Bristol Flyers 73

A tough end to regular season saw the B. Braun Sheffield Sharks edged out by an in-form Bristol Flyers side by 65-73. The south west outfit led for all but 56 seconds of the game on the back of 19 points from GB International Jelani Watson-Gayle. The second defeat of the weekend sees the Sharks finish in seventh place in a very competitive regular season and therefore will match up against Leicester Riders at the playoff quarter final stage. The home leg will take place on Friday 28^th April with the away game at Leicester’s Morningside Arena on Sunday 30^th April.

Starting Fives

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

Flyers: Mahan, Olison, Bell, Delpeche, Miller.

Key Moments

An uncharacteristic slow start to the game saw the Sharks playing catch-up for virtually the whole contest. Mike Miller and Malcolm Delpeche saw Bristol out to a 0-7 lead before Atiba Lyons called for time on behalf of the Sharks. The pause had the desired effect as a Jordan Ratinho hook shot and corner triple reduced the deficit. The Flyers showed why they have secured third place in the league from thereon in. A 2-12 run was concluded by Thomas Bell and despite Marcus Delpeche’s reverse lay up in the final seconds, the Sharks lowest first quarter of the season ended with 9 points as opposed to Bristol’s 19.

The Flyers’ Jelani Watson-Gayle opened the second period with a three from the top of the key but a couple of trademark Rodney Glasgow baskets started to make in-roads into Bristol’s lead. A steal from Sa’eed Nelson ended in a successful and-one play as the gap came down to five at 24-29. The resilience of the visitors saw that soon become ten once again on Bell’s bucket and it took a quick-thinking catch and shot at the end of the half from Jordan Ratinho to keep the Sharks in touch at 30-40.

The Sharks started the second half with renewed vigour – Jalon Pipkins draining the three and his side forcing Bristol into a shot clock violation. The lift was brief as Brandon Mahan, Leslee Smith and Jelani Watson-Gayle found the hoop to restore the growing lead at 39-51. Kipper Nichols and Bennett Koch were both benched on three fouls as the third quarter concluded at 41-53.

The Sharks took the final stanza by 24-20 but Bristol did enough to secure a solid-looking win. A logo-distance three from Devearl Ramsey again buoyed home hopes and the first of eight points in the quarter from Bennett Koch cut the gap to nine at 48-57. Inbetween Koch’s work in the paint however, the Flyers found the target through Malcolm Delpeche, Brandon Mahan and Jelani Watson-Gayle to make it 59-73. Trips to the line for Jalon Pipkins, Devearl Ramsey and another Koch basket reduced the difference but in the end it was Bristol who ran out deserved 65-73 victors.

MVP

A tough weekend ended for the Sharks with the clarity of their playoff opponents and the knowledge that they have had recent success against them. Three Sharks made double figure scoring in the last game of regular season. Eight points in the final ten minutes steered Bennett Koch to 10 points, 4 rebounds, 2 assists and a steal. Sa’eed Nelson, still having his minutes carefully managed, made 11 on 5 of 9 shooting with 2 boards, 3 assists and 3 steals. The MVP matched Nelson’s shooting percentage as well as leading his team from the front. Rodney Glasgow contributed 10 points with 3 rebounds, 4 assists and 2 more steals in a team total of 13 but couldn’t quite see his side home on this occasion.

Post Game Interview

Sharks skipper Rodney Glasgow spoke of his belief that his side could still go deep into the playoffs and thanked the SharkNation for getting behind the team.

Next game

B. Braun Sheffield Sharks v Leicester Riders, Friday April 28^th 2023, Ponds Forge, 7.30pm Tip Off.

Image

Adam Bates