REPORT: Sharks involvement in the BBL Cup comes to an end

Saturday 13^th November 2021

BBL Cup Quarter Final

London Lions 100 B. Braun Sheffield Sharks 68

The B. Braun Sheffield Sharks BBL Cup involvement came to an end with defeat at the hands of the London Lions. Despite a 0-7 start engineered by Bennett Koch, the star-studded Lions took control of the game through big second and third quarters to run out winners by 100-68. The Sharks attentions now turn back to their unbeaten start in the league with a visit to Cheshire Phoenix on Sunday week.

Starting Fives

Lions: Lockhart, Washburn, Kelley, Williams Jordan, Williams Dirk.

Sharks: Anderson, Williams Jonathan, Nichols, Ratinho, Koch.

Key Moments

The game couldn’t have begun in better fashion for the Sharks as Bennett Koch produced the first seven points of the encounter. Former Shark Dirk Williams dragged the Lions back into the game at 8-11 and his three point score drew matters level at 11-11. Five Lorenzo Cugini points saw London take a lead at 20-11 and it took a Jonathan Williams ‘and one’ play to close the deficit at 22-16 by the quarter end.

Twelve points for Cugini saw London take a similar lead into the locker room at half time. Dirk Williams’ trey saw Atiba Lyons calling for time with the score at 35-22. Jonathan Williams neatly sidestepped his man to drain three of his own but back to back Cugini triples and another from the top of key by Dirk Williams gave the Lions a twelve point advantage with the score at 46-34.

A 27-9 third period killed the game as a contest. Four more three point scores added to an excellent London shooting display with only Rodney Glasgow Jr being able to reply in kind for the Sharks. Allied with a solid defensive effort, four blocks for former NBA G Leaguer Kylor Kelley summed up the Sharks difficulties as the stanza ended at 73-43.

Seven Rodney Glasgow points opened up the final quarter but Cugini continued his hot spell from downtown on his way to 28 points on the evening. Two three point scores for Nate Montgomery closed the encounter but it was the men from the capital who progressed to the semi-finals with the final score at 100-68.

MVP

Twenty minutes court time for Rodney Glasgow gleaned fourteen points and there was a similar output for Jonathan Williams from eight minutes more. The only other Shark in double figures was Bennett Koch. After his early seven points, Koch went on to record six more on perfect one hundred percent shooting to claim the MVP award for his spirit despite his side’s defeat.

Next game

Cheshire Phoenix v B. Braun Sheffield Sharks, Sunday 21^st November 2021, Cheshire Oaks Arena, 5.30pm Tip Off.

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Adam Bates