REPORT: Ramsey streets ahead as London are toppled for the second time this season

Sunday 19^th March 2023

BBL Championship

London Lions 80 B. Braun Sheffield Sharks 82

The B. Braun Sheffield Sharks became the first BBL team this season to inflict two wins on champions-elect London Lions with a stunning victory at the Copperbox Arena. A 12-23 final quarter that included a 5-18 run to the end of the game capped another perfect winning weekend for the Sharks. The 80-82 success was the Sharks 13^th of the season and came behind a team-high 22 points for point guard Devearl Ramsey.

Starting Fives

Lions: Zubcic, Taylor, Dekker, Oni, Komagum.

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

Key Moments

A solid platform for a memorable win was built in an excellent first quarter. Sharks’ Devearl Ramsey and London’s Tomislav Zubcic exchanged threes to open the game as a 9-0 run from the hosts took them out to a 12-7 lead. Undeterred, the Sharks went on a 0-11 burst of their own – two Jalon Pipkins treys and a pair of free throws forcing the swing. The Lions’ Luke Nelson broke the run from the line but points from Kipper Nichols and Ramsey once again saw the Sharks ahead by 13-22 after the opening ten minutes.

Predictably, the star-studded London side put up two big quarters either side of half time. A thrilling display from Ramsey continued with a steal for the and-one on the opening play, and another three point shot saw the lead to double digits at 18-28. Both sides entered the penalty at a relatively early stage and the Sharks also had the head-scratching situation of centres Bennett Koch and Marcus Delpeche reaching the three foul mark. GB guard Mo Soluwade hit his second dagger three for the hosts and two baskets for former NBA star Sam Dekker concluded a 29-23 quarter for the Lions and a half time scoreline of 42-45.

London threatened to run away with the game in the third, racking up a 26-14 quarter. Another NBA alumnus, Miye Oni saw the Lions into a 55-51 lead with ten points that ended in a corner triple. Zubcic repeated the feat and when Luke Nelson connected from the top of the key, the difference went out to 65-57. A Josh Sharma and-one inside the last thirty seconds saw London seemingly in command at 68-59 with the final quarter to go.

The Sharks captain Rodney Glasgow Jr came up clutch in a scintillating fourth period. He opened his account with a three and then completed a trademark mid-ranger with the score at 72-64. The three point shot continued to be a source of success for the Sharks. Shots from Ramsey and Nichols pulled the visitors to within three at 77-74 as London scrambled into a timeout. The momentum was with the Sharks by now however as Jordan Ratinho and Rodney Glasgow once more found the target from beyond the arc to claim a 77-80 lead. The Lions’ Luke Nelson replied in kind to level the game but a Rodney Glasgow floater put the Yorkshire side ahead by 80-82. The remaining 74 seconds were filled with the defensive intensity that Sheffield had displayed all game, leading to scenes of jubilation on the final buzzer.

MVP

Wins over the likes of London don’t come easily so it can’t be stressed enough what an outstanding team effort this was from the Sharks. However, 10 points from skipper Rodney Glasgow, all gleaned in the final quarter, were both timely and nerveless to go with the 3 assists and 2 steals he also made. Jalon Pipkins made big shots in his 12 point outing and there was a trademark, all-action display from Kipper Nichols, who finished with 15 points, 6 rebounds, 3 assists and 2 steals. The victory was well and truly started by the eventual MVP Devearl Ramsey however. His statline of 22 points, 4 rebounds, 1 assist and 2 steals came on 61% shooting as he proved to be the catalyst to a truly memorable win.

Next game

B. Braun Sheffield Sharks v Leicester Riders, Friday March 24^th 2023, Ponds Forge, 7.30pm Tip Off.

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Adam Bates