Returning Rodney shoots down the Flyers

Sunday 26th November 2023

British Basketball League Regular Season

B. Braun Sheffield Sharks 88 Bristol Flyers 78

The B. Braun Sheffield Sharks recovered from a fourteen point deficit to take an 88-78 victory over Bristol Flyers. The usual defensive battle between the two sides didn’t materialise as returning co-captain Rodney Glasgow Jr proved to be the catalyst to the Sharks come-from-behind win. His 17 points took the MVP award as Atiba Lyons’ men moved to a 9-6 record and back to third place in the British Basketball League regular season standings.

Starting Fives

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

Flyers: Olison, Jacob, Jackson, Graham-Bell, Greene.

Key Moments

The opening 10 minutes and 51 seconds all belonged to Bristol. Trejon Jacob’s early three established a 4-7 lead for the visitors and repeat scores for Rowell Graham-Bell and CJ Jackson saw the Flyers up the intensity at 10-15. The Sharks suffered the blow of Devearl Ramsey being benched on 2 fouls as back to back buckets for Brad Greene confirmed that the Bristolians were in the ascendancy. Despite a Bennett Koch putback late in the quarter, a scoreline of 17-27 said it all.

That lead became 14 early in the second quarter on Raphell Thomas-Edwards’ dunk at 17-31. The spark to the Sharks fightback was returning co-captain Rodney Glasgow Jr. He commenced a 16-2 run with a jumpshot and a corner trey on his way to 13 points in the period. Jalon Pipkins almost matched him with 8 including one eye-catching shimmy to the hoop but two further triples from Glasgow sealed a 27-13 quarter and a 44-40 half time lead for the Sharks.

The third period up to the media timeout was a more typical Sharks – Bristol affair. The deadlock was broken this time by Prentiss Nixon. Back to back threes were followed by a steal and basket as Bristol headed to the benches with the score at 65-51. Another returnee, Marcus Delpeche, converted against his former side as another big 25-15 quarter ended in the Sharks favour at 69-55.

The Sharks kept the Flyers at arms-length in the final stanza in order to secure a very pleasing win. Tevin Olison drew Bristol to within six at 73-67 with an and-one play but four more Jalon Pipkins points halted any hopes of a comeback from the south-west side. Kipper Nichols’ dagger three late in the clock took the score to 86-74 and Jalon Pipkins reverse dunk thrilled the crowd to conclude a satisfying 88-78 victory.

MVP

Devearl Ramsey recovered from an enforced spell on the bench early in the game to narrowly miss out on a double-double with 12 points, 4 rebounds, 9 assists and 2 steals. Jalon Pipkins thrilled in the way only he can for 13 points, 3 rebounds, 2 assists and 3 steals. It was the Sharks co-captains who led from the front in securing a pleasing success. Bennett Koch shouldered some tough treatment once again but admirably finished with 15 points and 7 rebounds on 5 of 7 shooting. The MVP went the way of fellow captain Rodney Glasgow Jr, however. He was the spark to the Sharks reversing the Bristol lead with some exemplary shooting to end with 17 points, 3 rebounds and 3 assists.

Next game

Bristol Flyers v B. Braun Sheffield Sharks, Saturday December 2nd 2023, SGS College Arena, 8.00pm Tip Off.

Image

Adam Bates