Saturday 11th March 2023
BBL Championship
Surrey Scorchers 67 B. Braun Sheffield Sharks 70
The B. Braun Sheffield Sharks completed a perfect weekend by toughing out an excellent win on the road at Surrey Scorchers. The game remained in the balance right down to the final minute on a pair of Josh McFolley three point scores for Surrey. However, a clutch basket for MVP Jalon Pipkins, who contributed 22 on the night, saw the Sharks to a 67-70 win and a rise to seventh in the BBL standings.
Starting Fives
Scorchers: Johnson, Dobbs, McFolley, Wang, Steel.
Sharks: Nelson, Pipkins, Ratinho, Ramsey, Koch.
Key Moments
The Sharks made the better start in a low scoring first quarter – three point shots from Jalon Pipkins and Jordan Ratinho giving them a 2-6 lead. Four triples were the main talking point of a Surrey 14-1 run. Huge back to back threes from South Sudan international Padiet Wang were followed by efforts from Ryan Martin and Josh Steel as the Scorchers went ahead by 16-7. A pair of Kipper Nichols baskets saw the opening stanza close at 16-11.
Surrey’s success from distance proved to be their go-to method as Josh McFolley, Kyle Carey, Tayo Ogedengbe and Wang once more saw them out to a ten point lead at 32-22. The Sharks chipped away however. Pipkins one handed throw down was followed by a Rodney Glasgow three and with Pipkins making a fifteen footer, a tight first half closed at 36-32.
The Sharks edged the third quarter. McFolley opened the period with a perfect three from the line but good ball movement midway through the stanza saw Kipper Nichols connect from the corner with the score at 47-40. Josh Steel completed Surrey’s ninth triple of the encounter but an identikit three from Nichols closed the gap to 52-47. Rodney Glasgow showed leadership qualities to the end of the quarter. His three was followed by a trademark mid-range shot in transition with the score at 55-52.
Surrey kept their noses in front until Bennett Koch came to the party. A turnaround hook followed by a baseline move restored the Sharks lead at 59-60 and as the Scorchers went into the penalty with 4.48 to play. Surrey refused back down though. A circus shot from Ogedengbe kept the hosts in touch and when McFolley hit the pull-up three at 64-66 with 90 seconds remaining, the result of the game was very much in the balance. McFolley repeated the feat to put Surrey in front by 67-66 as the final minute rolled in. Things swung back the Sharks way on Pipkins second chance basket and a pair of Sa’eed Nelson free throws, giving the Scorchers 5 seconds to overturn a 67-70 deficit out of the timeout. McFolley’s big three point attempt fell well short and the Sharks could celebrate a winning weekend and their eleventh victory of the campaign.
MVP
The whole Sharks roster played their part in going 2-0 for a very successful weekend. In Surrey, Kipper Nichols proved to be the Sharks glue guy with 11 points, 2 rebounds, 5 assists and a steal. There was a seriously hot spell for Sharks skipper Rodney Glasgow. He made key baskets with that familiar left arm stroke on his way to a very creditable 12 points, 5 rebounds and 5 assists. There was a Sharks career high for the eventual MVP however. Jalon Pipkins poured in 22 points with 6 rebounds and an assist for an efficiency rating of 24 to lead his side back up the BBL table in the right direction.
Next game
B. Braun Sheffield Sharks v Surrey Scorchers, Friday March 17th 2023, Ponds Forge, 7.30pm Tip Off.
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Rob Sambles
