REPORT: Sharks defeated in low-scoring affair

Saturday 1^st October 2022

BBL Championship

Bristol Flyers 68 B. Braun Sheffield Sharks 55

Another typically low scoring match-up was fought out in the south west but unfortunately it was the Bristol Flyers who took a 68-55 win over the B. Braun Sheffield Sharks. The compact SGS College Arena has seen many close fought encounters between the hometown Flyers and the Sharks and it was Andreas Kapoulas’ men who went 2-0 for the season and saw the Sharks fall to 0-3 this time around.

Starting Fives

Flyers: Mahan, Bell, King, Malcolm Delpeche, Miller.

Sharks: Nelson, Nichols, Ratinho, Banks, Ogunyemi.

Key Moments

Flyers – Sharks encounters have typically been defensive affairs and this one was no different. Five early points from Channel Banks gave the Sharks a 2-5 lead and when Javion Ogunyemi backed down his man at 2-7, things looked rosy for Sheffield. Vincent King staged a one man fightback for Bristol. His seven unanswered points restored the lead for the home side and a further triple later in the quarter made it 18-13. A 0-6 run to the end of the quarter, closed by a pair of Bennett Koch free throws, saw the Sharks on the high side by 18-19.

Marcus Delpeche entered the game at the start of the second period but it was his brother Malcolm, who slammed home at 20-19. The Bristol half of the twin brothers nailed two from the line at 27-21 as the Sharks committed the first of several shot clock violations. Kipper Nichols, Rodney Glasgow and Javion Ogunyemi got the board moving in the right direction for the Sharks and a close half was concluded from the line by Nichols with the score at 35-33.

Brandon Mahan opened the second half scoring from beyond the arc for Bristol and ended an 11-2 run in similar fashion at 46-35. King hit a huge trey and Thomas Bell made a steal and dunk as the Flyers extended their lead to 14 at 53-39. Jordan Ratinho found success from distance, followed by Delpeche on the fastbreak and Sa’eed Nelson from the mid range but a 20-15 quarter saw Bristol finish the third ahead by 55-48.

Three’s from Tevin Olison and Corey Samuels saw the Sharks calling for time early in the fourth period with the score at 63-48. The Sharks entrusted Nate Montgomery and Hensy Sako to attempt to close the gap but Mike Miller pushed Bristol further in front at 68-49. The Sharks entered the penalty late in the quarter and despite late buckets for Bennett Koch and Javion Ogunyemi, it was the Bristolians who ran out winners by 68-55.

MVP

A low scoring, close encounter meant that there were few contenders for the MVP award. Jordan Ratinho contributed 5 points, 9 rebounds, 4 assists and 2 blocks but there was a clear standout in only his third game in Sharks colours. Javion Ogunyemi came up with a decent double double of 12 points with 12 rebounds as well as an assist and a steal on six of nine shooting but was unable to steer his side to their first win of the campaign.

Next game

B. Braun Sheffield Sharks v Caledonia Gladiators, Friday October 7^th 2022, Ponds Forge, 7.30pm Tip Off.

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Adam Bates