REPORT: Koch clips the Eagles wings once again

Friday 14^th October 2022

BBL Championship

B. Braun Sheffield Sharks 66 Newcastle Eagles 59

The B. Braun Sheffield Sharks claimed back to back wins, utilising their defensive abilities to take a seven point success over Newcastle Eagles on Friday evening. The Sharks out-rebounded the Eagles and dominated the paint behind a career high equalling 25 points for Bennett Koch on their way to the 66-59 victory. The Sharks now move up to fifth in the BBL Championship standings with the Eagles astonishingly firmly rooted at the foot of the table.

Starting Fives

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

Eagles: Hamlet, Varner, Defoe, Kennedy, Cohn.

Key Moments

The first half might not have been the spectacle the Sky Sports cameras were hoping for. The Sharks forced Newcastle into a shot clock violation inside the first three minutes as a Bennett Koch and-one play put the home side up by 5-4. That became 11-6 on Hensy Sako’s first points in a Sharks jersey but the Eagles got back on terms through Javion Hamlet’s and-one and pair of free throws. The sides traded scores to the end of the quarter when Hamlet’s buzzer beater made it 15-15.

The Sharks were forced to sit influential point guard Sa’eed Nelson on three fouls early in the second period as Koch drew contact once more on his way to another three point play at 20-21. An insane block from Sako was eventually ruled as a goaltend but undeterred, Koch continued to profit in the paint coming up with the Sharks final 13 points of the half. Newcastle also felt the wrath of the officials as Defoe and Kennedy also found themselves on 3 fouls but it was Lesley Varner who saw them to a 30-31 lead after 20 minutes of basketball.

A breakout third stanza was the key to the Sharks success. Jordan Ratinho made the Sharks first three point score of the game and forward Javion Ogunyemi opened his account with a vicious jam from Ratinho’s assist. Recent Newcastle signing Donovan Johnson found himself joining the 3 foul club as Ogunyemi and Ratinho closed a 19-10 quarter in the Sharks favour with the score at 49-41.

Nelson was reintroduced into the game at the top of the fourth period, increasing the lead to ten as Koch continued to plough his lone furrow down the lane. The Sharks didn’t have it all their own way as Newcastle vet Darius Defoe and Hamlet took the score to 57-50. The home side weren’t going to let this one go however as a Nelson trey took the lead out to 62-50. Koch suffered a heavy fall going into the final three minutes but the Sharks were resolute despite the Eagles getting to within five at 64-59. By this stage, it was too little too late though as a pair of Kipper Nichols free throws wrapped up a 66-59 victory.

MVP

Youngster Hensy Sako impressed, pressed into early action, to claim 6 rebounds with his tremendous verticals and the first points of his BBL career to boot. Forward Javion Ogunyemi continued his progression with 8 points and 7 boards and there was another steady return of 11 points, 5 rebounds and 3 assists for Kipper Nichols. A career high equalling 25 points saw the MVP award go the way of Bennett Koch however. The big Wisconsin native shot at 69% on the night as well as succeeding on 7 of his 9 trips to the line and claiming 7 rebounds to signal an influential evening’s work.

Post Game Interview

MVP Bennett Koch spoke of his pleasure at the win and the defensive focus the Sharks maintained throughout.

Next game

B. Braun Sheffield Sharks v Newcastle Eagles, Sunday October 23^rd 2022, Ponds Forge, 4.30pm Tip Off.

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Adam Bates