REPORT: Overtime heartbreak for Sharks

Friday 11^th March 2022

BBL Championship

Bristol Flyers 75 B. Braun Sheffield Sharks 72

There was overtime heartbreak for the B. Braun Sheffield Sharks as they took a three point loss on the road at Bristol Flyers. A stirring comeback from as many as fifteen down was inspired by Devante Wallace to send the game into the extra period. However, it was the Flyers with a big play inside the final minute and a half that secured the victory.

Starting Fives

Flyers: Evans, Jacob, Thomas-Edwards, Delpeche, Walker.

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

Key Moments

The game was a low-scoring affair as neither side really got going on offence for the first three quarters. Bristol took an early 7-0 lead on Raphell Thomas-Edwards ‘and one’ play but a Jordan Ratinho drive kept the Sharks in contention at 9-6. The Sharks missed their first six three point attempts as the Flyers took their lead out to 16-8 on Mike Miller’s basket as a Marcus Delpeche free throw closed the opening quarter at 18-12.

Bristol extended their lead to thirteen points by half time. Flyers skipper Josh Rogers opened the period with a triple and two minutes in, Antwain Johnson made the Sharks first score from beyond the arc. A pair of three point plays from Bristol’s Marcus Evans saw them take a 30-21 advantage and the same player made another trey late in the quarter to see the home side up by 37-24 at the half.

The Sharks found their rhythm in the second half, taking a low-scoring third stanza by 8-15. Mike Tuck’s three from the top of the key pulled it back to 39-31 and another big shot out of the corner by Joe Mvuezolo closed it even further at 43-37. The six point differential was maintained by the quarter end with the score at 45-39.

The Sharks also took the fourth quarter by virtue of a big performance from Devante Wallace. He tied the game up at 51-51 and made another triple off the inbound pass to finally give the Sharks the lead. A big shot from distance by Flyers’ Trejon Jacob restored their advantage at 60-56 but inside the final minute, another Wallace three followed by a bucket high off the glass again levelled the game at 63-63. Bristol failed to secure the win off the final play as the game headed to overtime.

Things were neck and neck as the influential Wallace again tied matters up at the line with the score reading 68-68. Zach Simmons ‘and one’ play saw Bristol gain a slender advantage at 74-70 inside the final minute and a half and despite the Sharks getting a final chance to level with just 0.3 seconds left, it was the home side who claimed a 75-72 win.

MVP

With thirteen points in the fourth quarter and a further seven in overtime, Devante Wallace was the man most likely to drive the Sharks to success. His superhuman effort saw him garner 25 points with 5 rebounds, 2 assists and an eye-popping 5 steals but sadly it wasn’t enough to get the side over the line in a fascinating contest.

Next game

B. Braun Sheffield Sharks v Newcastle Eagles, Friday March 25^th 2022, Ponds Forge, 7.30pm Tip Off.

Image

Adam Bates