REPORT: Sharks push champs all the way in TV encounter

Friday 18^th November 2022

BBL Championship

Leicester Riders 71 B. Braun Sheffield Sharks 58

A defensive battle eventually saw the B. Braun Sheffield Sharks go down by 71-58 in front of the Sky Sports cameras at Leicester Riders. Unfortunately the Sharks lost their scoring touch down the stretch as the reigning champions pulled away to a 13 point win. The game didn’t have the air of a double figure defeat with the Sharks getting an immediate chance to bounce back on the road at Surrey on Saturday night.

Starting Fives

Riders: Thornton, Loving, Whelan, Jackson, Nelson-Henry.

Sharks: Nelson, Nichols, Ratinho, Glasgow Jr, Koch.

Key Moments

There was little to separate the two sides for the best part of three quarters. Bennett Koch got the hot hand at the start of the encounter. A drive into the paint by the towering centre put the Sharks up by 2-6 and a well-finished left hand move maintained the lead at 6-10. A 9-0 run to the end of the period by Leicester, kick started by Patrick Whelan’s three saw the home side in front by 15-10 after ten minutes play.

It took the return of Koch from the bench to put the Sharks back on the board at 18-12. And when the Wisconsin-native produced a trademark hook shot, he had scored 12 of the Sharks 14 points. Channel Banks broke the Sharks reliance on one man – a two in transition was followed by a three and a neat turnaround to put the visitors in front by 22-23. Deadly three point shooter Patrick Whelan was successful out of the corner to restore the Riders lead at 30-27 but a Jordan Ratinho trey inside the final ten seconds capped a 15-22 quarter in favour of the Sharks and a 30-32 lead.

Leicester shaded the third stanza but the game was still anybody’s going into the final period. The sides traded baskets until deep in the quarter. Kimbal Mackenzie’s triple saw the Riders into a 45-42 lead only to be levelled by Javion Ogunyemi’s and-one on the next play. It took a Marc Loving three in the final minute to close the quarter with Leicester in front by 50-47.

The Sharks offence stalled somewhat at the start of the fourth quarter. Sa’eed Nelson’s basket was the only score in the opening four minutes as Mackenzie and Zach Jackson took Leicester into a 58-49 lead. A quick perimeter passing move saw the Riders convert from behind the arc through Jackson at 61-54 and an open Patrick Whelan three took the advantage out to ten at 66-56. Kipper Nichols two handed dunk gave the Sharks a glimpse of hope with 2.34 left to play but another Jackson trey and a tip in from Darien Nelson-Henry gave the home side a 71-58 victory.

MVP

Both sides shot 42% from the field with the Sharks winning the paint to the tune of 30-34 and virtually matching the Riders on the boards by 36-34. Bennett Koch led the Sharks scoring with 12 points and there were good offensive cameos by Channel Banks, who ended with 11 points, 4 rebounds, 1 assist and a block. The all-round talents of Kipper Nichols took the MVP award however. His 10 points in a low scoring encounter were the icing on a performance that also contained 6 rebounds, 4 assists, a steal and 2 blocks as the Sharks pushed an in-form Leicester side all the way.

Next game

Surrey Scorchers v B. Braun Sheffield Sharks, Saturday November 19^th 2022, Surrey Sports Park, 6.00pm Tip Off.

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Adam Bates