Semi-Final shootout starts on Friday

British Basketball League Playoff Semi Final

After a thrilling 2-1 series win over Leicester Riders at the Playoff Quarter-Final stage, the B. Braun Sheffield Sharks now face higher seeds Cheshire Phoenix to see who will make the May 19th final at London’s O2 Arena. Game One takes place at the Cheshire Oaks Arena on Friday evening, Game Two at the Canon Medical Arena on Sunday and Game Three, if required, back in Cheshire on Tuesday. Recent games have seen the ‘Nix taking as many three point shots as they do from inside the arc so if nothing else, an enthralling shootout is guaranteed!

Friday – Phoenix v Sharks – Cheshire Oaks Arena – 7.30pm

Watch – Playoffs: Cheshire vs B. Braun Sheffield Sharks, Game 01 - LIVE (youtube.com)

Sunday – Sharks v Phoenix – Canon Medical Arena – 4.30pm

Tickets - Fanbase | Schedule (fanbaseclub.com)

Ones To Watch

Aaryn Rai – Came up with a monster double-double as Cheshire swept Bristol at the quarter-final stage. His 34 points came on 11 of 17 shooting with 12 rebounds to boot. Was sent to the line 17 times, coming up with 12 successful makes.

Ethan Chargois – Came off the bench for an eye-catching 27 points in Game Two against the Flyers. Made 5 three-pointers as Cheshire continued their trend of volume shooting from beyond the arc in the 77-91 win in the South West.

Laquincy Rideau – Top-scored for the ‘Nix as they defeated Bristol by 91-90 in Game One. Rideau dished 11 dimes as well as adding 22 points and effecting 2 steals in the single point win to underline his qualities as their starting point guard.

Maceo Jack – Cheshire’s normally sharp-shooting Captain made his presence felt in other ways as the ‘Nix won their series 2-0 to make the semis. Pulled down 12 boards in Game One to go with 12 points to set the tone for a successful quarter-final campaign for the North West franchise.

Last Meeting

April 14th 2024 – B. Braun Sheffield Sharks (Green 18 Nixon 15 Nichols 12) 92 Cheshire Phoenix (Jack 31 Chargois 20 Rai 16) 99

Shark Bites

This weekend will be the 18th time the Sharks have played in the British Basketball League Playoff Semi-Finals since joining the league 30 years ago. Those 17 previous appearances have brought 5 wins and elimination on 12 occasions.

The Sharks go into the series with Cheshire having won one of the previous five games between the clubs this season. That win was back in September with the four subsequent losses being by an average of over 12 points per game. Cheshire and London are the only two teams yet to taste defeat at the Canon Medical Arena.

If the Playoff Semi-Final goes to a third game, it will be only the second time in 30 seasons that the Sharks have played a team 8 times in a single season. The only previous time was Sharks initial season in the British Basketball League 1994-95 against Birmingham Bullets.

Friday will see Rodney Glasgow Jr make his 100th appearance on court for the Sharks since his debut at home to Manchester on 29th October 2021.

SharkNation

Words fail us for the support you have shown recently! You brought the noise down in Leicester on Saturday and then, with less than 24 hours notice, you filled the Tank and turned up the volume even more! But we aren’t finished there. We know we’ve got another magnificent travelling contingent going to Cheshire on Friday and we need the Tank packed to the rafters on Sunday for Game Two. That crucial ticket link is at the top of the page – secure your seat for what is sure to be another can’t-miss exhibition of Sharks basketball! Oh and noise. Did we mention the noise? There needs to be lots of it because when you get behind the guys, they respond! The Sharks and the SharkNation – together we are UNBEATABLE! It’s time to #FearTheFin.

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Adam Bates