REPORT: We’re six-y and we know it! Sharks take down Riders

Friday 24^th March 2023

BBL Championship

B. Braun Sheffield Sharks 72 Leicester Riders 64

The B. Braun Sheffield Sharks made it six on the bounce in the league and claimed their first home win over Leicester Riders since 6^th April 2014. A clutch three point shot from skipper Rodney Glasgow, who led the Sharks scoring with 15 points, all but sealed the victory inside the final 35 seconds. A pair of highlight dunks from Jalon Pipkins and a statline filling evening from MVP Sa’eed Nelson all contributed to the memorable 72-64 success as the Sharks climbed to sixth in the BBL standings.

Starting Fives

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

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

Key Moments

Leicester’s Marc Loving and the Sharks’ Devearl Ramsey traded three point shots at the start of the encounter but the aesthetics all pointed to a pair of Jalon Pipkins’ drives into the paint that ended in ferocious dunks. Pipkins’ highlight plays were a precursor to a 16-3 Sharks run that ended on a Kipper Nichols’ fadeaway with the score at 18-8. Five Carrington Love points boosted the Riders’ output but a Rodney Glasgow hook ended a useful first quarter for the Sharks who led by 22-15.

A well-executed and-one play and a follow-up basket from Bennett Koch saw the Sharks go up by 11 at 31-20. The defending champions inevitably staged a comeback that lasted to half time. Patrick Whelan hit one of his trademark threes, which was soon followed by fellow GB international Kimbal Mackenzie with an and-one. Aaron Menzies made it a GB treble as the Sharks called for time at 35-30 and it was the same player’s throwdown inside the final thirty seconds that narrowed the gap to 39-36 at the interval.

Rather like the London victory last weekend, the Sharks could have capitulated against their third placed opposition but quite the opposite happened. Marcus Delpeche converted at the second attempt to make it 47-39 but with the Sharks in the penalty, a tough five and half minutes awaited the home side. That proved unfounded as Koch took the lead out to double digits at 52-42 and with Love going zero of two from the line, Leicester were restricted to just 8 points in the period. The Sharks however had made 15 and were in the box seat at 54-44 with ten minutes to play.

The Sharks were intense on defence all evening and the frustration became apparent for the Riders. Technical foul calls on Carrington Love and Jubril Adekoya were symptomatic of this but Leicester produced some typically fluent plays that ended in Marc Loving tying up the game from beyond the arc at 58-58. ‘Mr Clutch’ once again was Rodney Glasgow. His three immediately restored the Sharks lead and despite Jordan Ratinho fouling out for the first time in his Sheffield career, the homesters were determined to get the win over the line. Baskets from Kipper Nichols and Marcus Delpeche edged the Sharks ahead by 67-62 and another trey late in the clock by Glasgow sent Ponds Forge into raptures with 35 seconds to go. A pair of Devearl Ramsey free throws bookended a couple from Leicester’s Zach Jackson but it was the Sharks who were jubilant with a 72-64 success.

MVP

Jalon Pipkins hit those two scintillating dunks and did a bit of everything, adding 3 rebounds, 4 assists and 5 steals to kick start a landmark win for the Sharks. Forwards Bennett Koch and Marcus Delpeche added 10 apiece and 12 smooth points came from the arm of Kipper Nichols, who also pulled down 5 boards. Rodney Glasgow led from the front once again with a team-high 15 points, including that late three that sent Ponds Forge into scenes of delirium. The MVP was Sa’eed Nelson. His athletic finishing saw him to 14 points as well as filling the statline with 7 rebounds, 4 assists, 3 steals in another all-action display from the former American University guard.

Post Game Interview

Jalon Pipkins spoke of how the Sharks preparation was key to a night the SharkNation won’t forget in a hurry.

Next game

Cheshire Phoenix v B. Braun Sheffield Sharks, Sunday April 2^nd 2023, Cheshire Oaks Arena, 5.30pm Tip Off.

Image

Adam Bates