REPORT: Sharks unable to go the distance as Bristol take win

Friday 20^th January 2023

BBL Championship

B. Braun Sheffield Sharks 73 Bristol Flyers 91

A game of two halves saw the B. Braun Sheffield Sharks take an 18 point loss at home to second-placed Bristol Flyers. An entertaining first half in front of the Sky Sports cameras saw the Sharks 45-40 to the good but a 28-51 second twenty minutes saw the in-form Flyers claim the win. The Sharks gave a debut to new signing Tyrn Flowers and on a further positive note, there was a second consecutive useful performance from Jordan Ratinho, who was the home side’s standout with 16 points and 5 rebounds.

Starting Fives

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

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

Key Moments

A fired up Sharks outfit took the game to Bristol from the first play when Rodney Glasgow’s steal led to Sa’eed Nelson opening the scoring. A positive start continued when excellent ball movement saw Kipper Nichols finish with the three and the Sharks took the opportunity to introduce ex-Long Island Shark Ty Flowers with 5.48 to play in the quarter. A 9-0 run ended when Jordan Ratinho hit the trey from Marcus Delpeche’s offensive rebound with the score at 19-10. The final minute saw the Sharks still ahead at 23-16 on Ratinho’s jump shot but a Mike Miller bucket and a VJ King and-one play saw a close first period end at 23-21.

The Sky Sports viewing public cannot have failed to be entertained as the rest of the half wore on. Bennett Koch muscled his way to the hoop in the opening thirty seconds and the Sharks retained their lead when a spring-heeled Nelson finished Glasgow’s assist with the score at 31-27. Triples from Ratinho and Glasgow saw that lead become ten and that was maintained at 45-35 going into the final minute on Koch’s basket. Again, Bristol fought back at the end of the period. VJ King’s free throws and Brandon Mahan’s three pointer saw a relentless twenty minutes close with the score at 45-40.

The Flyers showed why they are a force to be reckoned with a superlative shooting display in the second half. Seventeen points either side of the interval only had a Devearl Ramsey trey as a reply and although Tyrn Flowers opened his Sharks account with a corner three, a reply in kind from King saw the visitors open up an advantage at 53-59. A highlight block on former Shark Leslee Smith by Sa’eed Nelson showed that the hosts still had some pluck but a late Jelani Watson-Gayle three saw Bristol ahead by 60-66 at the end of the third.

Tevin Olison got the hot hand for the Flyers at the start of the fourth quarter, ending a 2-12 run with a mid-range effort to make it 62-75. Bristol skipper Mike Miller took over from there and maintained the thirteen point differential at 68-81 as the Sharks shots failed to drop. Malcolm Delpeche departed the game on a foul and a technical with 4.35 still to play but by then the momentum was with the side from the south west. A pair of Thomas Bell baskets concluded a 13-25 quarter and a 73-91 victory for Coach Andreas Kapoulas’ men.

MVP

A sixth BBL Championship defeat in a row had to be tempered with several positives for the new-look Sharks side. Skipper Rodney Glasgow (10 points 5 assists 3 steals) and Devearl Ramsey (7 points 6 rebounds 4 steals) set the tone for a fast-paced healthy start to the encounter. There was an array of athletic finishes from Sa’eed Nelson, who finished with 14 points, 3 rebounds, 4 assists and a steal as well as a highlight block but a second successive superlative performance claimed the MVP award. Jordan Ratinho followed up his exciting display in the BBL Trophy with 16 points, 5 rebounds, 2 assists and a steal to seal a welcome return to form for the California native.

Post Game Interview

Sharks Coach Atiba Lyons spoke about the proverbial game of two halves and the need to rebuild the side’s identity.

Next game

London Lions v B. Braun Sheffield Sharks, Sunday January 22^nd 2022, Copperbox Arena, 4.00pm Tip Off.

Image

Adam Bates