REPORT: Sharks go down to back to back defeats with Caledonia loss

Sunday 5^th February 2023

BBL Championship

Caledonia Gladiators 77 B. Braun Sheffield Sharks 71

The B. Braun Sheffield Sharks suffered back to back weekend losses, going down by 77-71 in Glasgow against Caledonia Gladiators. The Sharks continued to perform on the defensive end, keeping the hosts under 80 points but their offensive struggles continued, resulting in the six point loss. A break from the toils of the league now follows as eyes switch to a BBL Trophy quarter final at Leicester Riders on Friday.

Starting Fives

Gladiators: Sloan, Tape, Jimenez, Onwas, Bailey.

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

Key Moments

Caledonia have lost just twice at home this season and it was easy to see why as they took command in a 22-10 opening quarter. Kyle Jimenez corner three put the Glads up by 10-3 and it took a Jordan Ratinho and-one play to keep the Sharks in touch at 16-10. Caledonia’s recent signing Al Durham proved influential to the quarter end. He made a three point shot followed by an and-one play and then put up a block on Marcus Delpeche to give his side a 12 point lead.

The Sharks finally took the brakes off at the start of the second quarter. A 2-12 run hauled them right back into the contest as threes from Devearl Ramsey and Ty Flowers were bookended by a pair of Ratinho free throws to take the score to 24-22. A tough Bennett Koch hook shot that drew a foul kept the Sharks within five at 33-28 as Caledonia entered the penalty. A technical on Gladiators coach Gareth Murray saw Rodney Glasgow and Devearl Ramsey reduce that to four from the line but a groan-inducing three on the buzzer from Jeremiah Bailey gave the home side a 40-33 half time lead.

The third quarter was a close affair as the contest remained in the balance. The Sharks backcourt duo of Devearl Ramsey and Sa’eed Nelson looked the men most likely to drive the offence – Ramsey making a fastbreak two and a pair of Nelson excursions into the paint saw Caledonia into the bonus once more with the score at 48-46. The Scots had the last say in the period once again however. A Durham basket followed by a Bailey free throw saw them take a 56-50 lead into the fourth stanza.

Jordan Ratinho replied to Durham’s opening three point score at the start of the final ten minutes but when influential big man Bennett Koch unfortunately tipped into his own basket and then picked up his fourth foul, the Sharks flow appeared disrupted. Six points for the Gladiators’ Fahro Alihodzic saw the hosts into a 75-63 lead. Devearl Ramsey refused to give up the fight, making five late points as Koch finally fouled out with 3.8 seconds left. There was still time for Ramsey to make a further two points from the line, but an even scored final period saw Caledonia take a 77-71 victory.

MVP

On his 100^th appearance for the club, Kipper Nichols equalled his Sharks career high of 6 assists. Sa’eed Nelson also had an equalled career high, this time with 5 steals that went with 11 points, 5 rebounds and 4 assists. Jordan Ratinho also refused to give up the game as a lost cause, finishing with 13 points, 3 rebounds, 1 assist and a steal. For the pace of his play and general threat all evening, the MVP was Devearl Ramsey. He made a Sharks career high of 23 points, 2 rebounds, 2 assists and a steal for an efficiency rating of 17 but sadly could not inspire the rest of his side to similar heights.

Next game

Leicester Riders v B. Braun Sheffield Sharks, Friday February 10^th 2023, Morningside Arena, 7.45pm Tip Off.

Image

Ross Wardrop