REPORT: Sharks edged out in thriller as Cheshire make Trophy final

Sunday 5^th March 2023

BBL Trophy Semi Final

Cheshire Phoenix 82 B. Braun Sheffield Sharks 78

A thrilling semi-final clash played out at the Cheshire Oaks Arena but unfortunately the B. Braun Sheffield Sharks were edged out by hosts Cheshire Phoenix. Both sides more than played their part in the proverbial game of runs but it was Cheshire who made a break in the final minute to claim their place at the Glasgow final with an 82-78 victory.

Starting Fives

Phoenix: Austin, Evans, Anderson, Teague, Neighbour.

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

Key Moments

Predictably the home side came out energetically in front of a partisan crowd to take a 9-4 lead through Jamell Anderson’s corner three. Back to back Bennett Koch baskets kickstarted the Sharks on offence as they went on an 11-0 run concluded by Jalon Pipkins and-one play. Will Neighbour pulled the Phoenix back within one at 16-17 but Rodney Glasgow (and-one) and Jordan Ratinho with a triple continued to emphasise a solid opening quarter for the Sharks. Two Kipper Nichols scores closed the period – 18-27 reflecting how determined Atiba Lyons’ men were.

Where the Sharks had dominated the opening stanza, Cheshire returned the favour in the second. Amorie Archibald made the corner triple that commenced the Phoenix fightback and by the time Will Neighbour’s turnaround jumper hit the net, they had staged a 20-6 run with the score at 38-33. The Sharks suffered Bennett Koch picking up his third foul with three minutes remaining of the half but another Anderson three and a Marcus Evans basket saw the home side happier with their lot at 47-39.

Tahjai Teague took the Cheshire lead out to eleven at the start of the third quarter but the Sharks fought back with another sizeable run. The Sheffield guards came to the fore as Devearl Ramsey assisted to Marcus Delpeche on the alleyoop, Sa’eed Nelson completed two steals that ended in baskets and Ramsey hit the trey that bookended a 15-0 streak at 51-54. Nelson ran in two more baskets and completed the free throw that saw the Sharks with their noses in front at 58-61 with ten minutes to play.

The runs got shorter in the final period and finally became more crucial. Cheshire big Tahjai Teague, stymied on 2 points at this stage, came to the party with 6 points as the Phoenix went on an 8-2 burst. Both Maceo Jack for the ‘Nix and Bennett Koch hit the four foul mark as Teague piled up 6 more points to give Cheshire a 75-69 advantage. A 7-0 spurt put the Sharks back in front, Sa’eed Nelson converting from beyond the arc on the angle. With one minute to play and the game very much in the balance, Marcus Evans’ triple restored the home side’s lead, extended to 80-76 on Larry Austin’s steal and lay-in. Cheshire took a vital 11 seconds off the clock inside the final half a minute as Evans took the game out to two possessions from the line at 82-76. A Nelson drive made it 82-78 with 15 seconds left but a further Sharks turnover saw jubilation from a packed crowd as Cheshire punched their ticket to the final on March 26^th.

MVP

Double figure outings for Kipper Nichols (10) and Devearl Ramsey (11) helped keep the Sharks in touch in a game that swung frequently between the teams. Shouldering the burden of the forward play when Bennett Koch hit foul trouble was Marcus Delpeche. He shot a tidy 61% on his way to 16 crucial points with 7 big rebounds. Making 18 of his 22 points in an electric second half was Sa’eed Nelson. He ended with 9 of 16 shooting  as well pulling down 4 boards, dishing out 6 assists, picking up 3 steals and making a blocked shot to take the MVP plaudits.

Next game

B. Braun Sheffield Sharks v Caledonia Gladiators, Friday March 10^th 2023, Ponds Forge, 7.30pm Tip Off.

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Adam Bates