REPORT: Hard working Sharks ride on into Trophy semi final

Friday 10^th February 2023

BBL Trophy

Leicester Riders 78 B. Braun Sheffield Sharks 79

A hard-working team display with an abundance of heart and talent saw the B. Braun Sheffield Sharks into the semi finals of the BBL Trophy with a 79-78 win on the road at Leicester Riders. The Sharks set the tone right from the tip off for the victory, which will see them play either Surrey Scorchers or Cheshire Phoenix in early March. Such was the ‘team’ nature of the win that it was impossible to select a standout from the eight Sharks that hit the court on the night.

Starting Fives

Riders: Mackenzie, Loving, Love, Menzies, Jackson.

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

Key Moments

The opening quarter was a front court masterclass from Sharks centre Bennett Koch. He unveiled his full repertoire of shots to put the visitors up by 6-10 and even when Leicester staged a fightback, he continued to plough a lone furrow at 13-14. Marc Loving’s and-one play gave the Riders their first lead but a Tyrn Flowers three in transition restored the Sheffield lead, which they would retain until the end of the period at 20-26.

Koch’s 14^th point of the game came midway through the second quarter with the Sharks just in front by 30-32. A 9-0 run for the hosts turned the tables through a pair of Marc Loving free throws and a Blake Bowman basket saw Leicester sitting pretty at 41-34 going into the final 90 seconds of the half. A Devearl Ramsey three from the top of the key and a one-handed Bennett Koch dunk ensured the half time difference would be negligible as Loving closed the half with the Riders in front at 44-39.

The Sharks offence re-energised in third quarter. A pair of Jordan Ratinho triples and a Kipper Nichols mid-ranger closed the gap to one at 48-47 and that was still the case as Rodney Glasgow connected to make it 54-53. In fact the Sharks managed a 4-11 run to the end of the period – two Ratinho drives into the paint being followed by a Nichols three to make the score 58-62.

An absolutely fascinating fourth quarter played out. Jubril Adekoya went down the lane to tie matters up at 66-66. The determination of the Sharks was typified midway through the stanza when Kipper Nichols put up two astonishing blocks on Leicester’s Evan Walshe and when Rodney Glasgow’s corner three made the score 68-74, realisation began to dawn that this just might be the Sharks night. Zach Jackson made back to back treys just to prove that the Riders can never be written off and an unsportsmanlike call on Kipper Nichols saw the Midlanders tie the game from the line through Kimbal Mackenzie at 78-78. Sa’eed Nelson put the Sharks back ahead from the line at 78-79 and with Leicester’s Carrington Love going out of bounds inside the last 30 seconds followed by an outstanding defensive stop from the Sharks on the final play, it was jubilation from the Sheffield bench as they progressed to the semi-final stage.

MVP

The Sharks may have had their teething troubles in the BBL Championship but left everything out on the court in order to claim a famous win. Sa’eed Nelson didn’t quite make double figures in points but was influential off the boards with 7 rebounds and dished out 6 assists. Jordan Ratinho made key plays at key times to finish with 10 points, 2 rebounds, 1 assist and a steal. The same can be said of Kipper Nichols, who shot 66% for 19 points with 2 rebounds, an assist and those outstanding blocks. The tone for the performance was set by Bennett Koch, who was on fire at the start of the contest, finishing with 18 points, 5 rebounds, 1 assist and 2 steals. But overall, it was unfair to single out individuals on a night where the sum of the Sharks efforts was bigger than its component parts. Undeniably a team MVP performance!

Next game

Manchester Giants v B. Braun Sheffield Sharks, Sunday February 19^th 2023, National Basketball Performance Centre, 5.00pm Tip Off.

Image

Adam Bates