REPORT: Unbeaten Lions derailed by Super Sharks

Friday 28^th October 2022

BBL Championship

B. Braun Sheffield Sharks 87 London Lions 81

The B. Braun Sheffield Sharks upset the standings by inflicting London Lions first defeat of the BBL season. The Sharks poured in their highest quarter and half time scores of the season and then controlled the tempo of the second half to take the 87-81 success against the men from the capital. The Sharks now go 4-4 in fourth place with London still stood at the top of the table on 7-1.

Starting Fives

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

Lions: Nelson L, Best, Hruban, Zubcic, Koufos.

Key Moments

The Sharks opened the game with the most points they have scored in a quarter this season. Matters were level at 9-9 on Aaron Best’s corner three for London before five Kipper Nichols points underlined a high tempo start for the Sharks. Sa’eed Nelson turned on the trademark afterburners for the and-one that put London into the penalty at 22-19 and the passion became demonstrable as Channel Banks finished over Josh Ward-Hibbert to make it a 12-0 run at 31-19. Despite Vojtech Hruban making a triple inside the final thirty seconds, a 31-22 opening quarter was not to be sniffed at for Sheffield.

Honours were largely even in the second period as the Sharks held off a sizeable Lions fightback. Rodney Glasgow’s trey sent London into a timeout at 42-24, which inspired a 2-15 rally from the visitors concluded by Hruban’s extra point play. Luke Nelson’s triple kept London within 6 at 48-42 but his namesake opponent Sa’eed showed serious hang time in making his own three point score as the half closed at 53-45.

The Sharks kept London at arms length throughout the third stanza. Former NBA man Kosta Koufos picked up his third and fourth fouls in between a trey from Jordan Ratinho as the lead went out to ten at 65-55. A turnaround jump shot from Tomislav Zubcic reduced it back to eight but the Sharks were fully deserving of a 71-59 scoreline after thirty minutes play on a superbly executed Channel Banks stepback three.

The Lions frustrations became apparent early in the final quarter as Luke Nelson received a technical after being called for a blocking foul. London’s main offence came from Hruban and Zubcic and it was the latter’s triple from the top of the key that made it 79-71 going into the final three and a half minutes. Hruban brought the difference down to four with a long two out of the corner at 81-77 but some savvy clock management closed out a memorable win for the Sharks. Sa’eed Nelson made a two point jump shot late in the clock and then followed that up with two more with the score now at 85-79 and only 25 seconds to go. Kipper Nichols closed the Sharks scoring for the night from the line and despite Koufos converting for the Lions, it was the Sharks who were elated with an 87-81 final scoreline.

MVP

It was a tremendous team effort for the Sharks to take down the previously unbeaten Lions. Bennett Koch was a colossus once more, doing battle in the paint with the London bigs for 12 points and 5 valuable rebounds. Jordan Ratinho was his usual workmanlike self, finishing with 10 points, 1 rebound, 4 assists and 2 steals. The on-the-night MVPs couldn’t be separated however. Sa’eed Nelson controlled the tempo of the game to a tee, running down the clock when required and coming up with vital offensive plays when it mattered. His 19 points, 7 rebounds, 4 assists and 3 steals underlined why he was deserving of a share of the honours. The other joint MVP was Kipper Nichols. The Rolls Royce of the Sharks was efficiency personified making 22 points, 4 rebounds, 5 assists and a steal as well as shooting 75% from the field  and going eight of eight from the line. Nelson and Nichols efforts were outstanding and the icing on the cake of a memorable night in The Tank.

Post Game Interview

Sharks Head Coach Atiba Lyons spoke of a great team performance and the resilience his side displayed in taking a landmark win.

Next game

B. Braun Sheffield Sharks v Leicester Riders, Sunday October 30^th 2022, Ponds Forge, 4.00pm Tip Off.

Image

Adam Bates