Season ends with Game Two defeat against Cheshire

Sunday 12th May 2024

British Basketball League Playoff Semi Final – Game Two

B. Braun Sheffield Sharks 73 Cheshire Phoenix 92

The B. Braun Sheffield Sharks’ season came to an end with defeat at the hands of Cheshire Phoenix in Game Two of the Playoff Semi-Final. Another noisy and packed crowd at the Canon Medical Arena saw visitors Cheshire take a controversial second quarter by 12-31 to set them on the road to the 73-92 victory. Phoenix skipper Maceo Jack led all scorers with 20 points as the Sharks were guided by an eighth season double-double of 17 points and 14 rebounds from Malek Green. The Sharks can hold their heads high with the thrilling and competitive nature of their recent displays, particularly at the Playoff stage but unfortunately for them, it will be Cheshire who match up against London Lions at next Sunday’s O2 Arena showpiece final.

Starting Fives

Sharks: Ramsey, Eytle-Rock, Ratinho, Green, Delpeche.

Phoenix: Rideau, Jack, Rai, Chargois, White.

Key Moments

The first quarter was a relatively even affair. The rain of three point shots that normally opens a Cheshire game failed to materialise and it was left to the ‘Nix Aaryn Rai to make all their points as they took a 4-8 lead. The Sharks rallied out of the media timeout. A Prentiss Nixon mid-range jumper reduced the gap to 8-10 and the same player came up with the floater that put the hosts into a 14-13 advantage. The Sharks held that lead into the final minute of the stanza but a Cam Christon three and a David Ulph free throw saw Cheshire back in front by 17-19 at the period end.

The Phoenix pushed the gap out to nine on a Rai free throw at 21-30 before the game took a dramatic turn. A two minute sixteen second spell midway through the stanza saw the Sharks collect a succession of technical fouls that included the ejection of Coach Atiba Lyons from the arena. In the meantime, Cheshire profited from a series of visits to the free throw line to open up a 25-41 gap. The irregularity of calls left the Sharks clearly shellshocked and curtailed the game as a basketball spectacle as Ethan Chargois shot Cheshire into a 29-50 half time lead.

Stand-In Coach Marko Backovic managed to rally his troops at the start of the second half. Ten points from Malek Green reduced the deficit to 44-59 before Cheshire returned to their free-scoring ways. Christon’s corner triple restored their 20 point advantage as Marcus Delpeche hit back with a fine and-one play. Things got worse for the Sharks however as Prentiss Nixon was the next to leave the arena and despite a Devearl Ramsey three in transition, the 53-70 scoreline was pretty much insurmountable for the South Yorkshire side.

Cheshire coasted to the 19 point win in a 20-22 final quarter. Triples from EJ Stephens, Cam Christon and Laquincy Rideau were only countered by Kipper Nichols in reply as the Phoenix established a 60-86 advantage. Maceo Jack claimed their fourteenth trey of the afternoon as both teams went into their bench with the result all but concluded. Malek Green claimed the Sharks final basket of the campaign but sadly a trip to the London final was not to be with the scoreline at 73-92.

MVP

The game unravelled on the five technical foul calls in the second quarter which deprived an enthusiastic crowd from both sides of a basketball spectacle worthy of a Playoff Semi-Final. Four Sharks hit double figure scores as they strived to keep their season alive. Devearl Ramsey was as involved as ever for his 10 point, 5 rebound, 5 assist, 3 steal game and his tally was bettered by one as Jalon Pipkins finished with 11 points, 5 rebounds, 3 assists, a steal and a block. Marcus Delpeche, pressed into a starting role at centre in recent weeks, contributed an enthusiastic and energetic double-double of 12 points and 10 rebounds but it was another double-double outing that took the MVP award. Malek Green’s 17 point, 14 rebound effort contained 5 offensive boards but it was the shooting of Cheshire over both encounters that saw them on their way to Sunday’s final encounter.

Next game

Season 2024-25 – Starting September 2024

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Adam Bates