REPORT : Rodney rocks Glasgow as Sharks return to second in the table

Friday 11^th February 2022

BBL Championship

B. Braun Sheffield Sharks 90 Glasgow Rocks 77

The B. Braun Sheffield Sharks returned to second in the BBL Championship with a pleasing 90-77 win over the Glasgow Rocks. Six Sharks hit double figure scores to propel the South Yorkshire men to the thirteen point win, led by Rodney Glasgow Jr (21) and Antwain Johnson (20) ahead of a visit to leaders Leicester Riders next weekend.

Starting Fives

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

Rocks: Hillsman, Harris, Johnson, Jacdonmi, Murray.

Key Moments

The Rocks belied their eighth position in the BBL table for long stretches of the game and it was Boban Jacdonmi who saw them out to an early 0-4 lead. Rodney Glasgow finished a delicious move that involved Kipper Nichols and Devante Wallace with a trey that put the Sharks up by 5-4 as the two sides traded buckets for the rest of the quarter. Jordan Ratinho drew the sides level at 22-22 inside the final thirty seconds before Glasgow’s Johnny Bunyan hit the corner triple that gave the visitors a 22-25 first quarter lead.

Twenty one three point scores landed on the night as Bunyan’s round the back assist was finished by Jaycee Hillsman with the score at 24-30. Bunyan maintained Glasgow’s lead with a triple at 34-36 but things swung back the Sharks way when Ratinho was successful from downtown at 39-37. The game was still evenly pitched at half time but Joe Mvuezolo’s late basket saw the home side with the advantage at 42-39.

The Sharks made several runs in an attempt to shake off the attentions of the Rocks but the Glaswegians continued to hang around. Kipper Nichols ‘and one’ play opened up a seven point lead at 51-44 before Hillsman capped a 0-8 run to restore a lead for the visitors. A foul and a technical for Glasgow’s Vance Johnson put the Rocks into the penalty and the Sharks finally capitalised. Antwain Johnson’s three in transition led the Sharks to an 8-2 run of their own and despite a pair of Fraser Malcolm free throws, Atiba Lyons’ men held a 66-60 advantage going into the final period.

Another Rocks indiscretion saw the fourth quarter open with a Rodney Glasgow Jr free throw and the influential point guard went on to add a long two and a mammoth three to open up a thirteen point lead at 81-68. Boban Jacdonmi went on a one man mission to rescue the game for the Scots but fittingly it was Rodney Glasgow with an ‘and one’ and a pair of free throws that capped a 24-17 final stanza and a satisfying 90-77 win for the Sharks.

MVP

Six Sharks with double figure scoring was one of the keys to another productive night in the BBL Championship. Jordan Ratinho, Marcus Delpeche and Joe Mvuezolo all weighed in with 10 and Devante Wallace’s all round influence was evident for his 14 points, 5 rebounds, 7 assists and 2 steals. Two Sharks ended up with twenty point hauls and couldn’t be separated for the MVP honours. Antwain Johnson put up a Sharks high in his admittedly brief Sheffield career with 20 points, 2 rebounds and 2 assists, bettered only by Rodney Glasgow Jr, who also contributed a Sheffield and BBL career high with 21 points, 3 rebounds, 6 assists and a steal. The efforts of the backcourt duo sparked a solid final quarter and saw the Sharks to a third win on the bounce.

Post Game Interview

Joe Mvuezolo explained how the Sharks remained positive and figured out a way to get the win over the line in another productive night at Ponds Forge.

Next game

Leicester Riders v B. Braun Sheffield Sharks, Friday February 18^th 2022, Morningside Arena, 8pm Tip Off.

Image

Adam Bates