Semi-Finals booked as Sharks take win in adversity over Cheshire

Sunday 12th January 2025

Super League Basketball Cup

B. Braun Sheffield Sharks 92 Cheshire Phoenix 78

The B. Braun Sheffield Sharks marched into the Super League Basketball Cup semi-finals with a win in adversity over Cheshire Phoenix. The Sharks were without EC Matthews and Rodney Chatman but fought back from a ten point deficit to book a place in the final four against the winners of next week’s Bristol Flyers and Caledonia Gladiators tie. The ever-involved Donovan Clay had an outstanding and unusual 11 rebound, 10 assist double-double but the MVP of the game was Prentiss Nixon, who even shook off an eye injury to see his side home with 32 points. The Sharks return to league action following today’s 92-78 victory with a road trip to Surrey 89ers next Friday.

Starting Fives

Sharks: Jeffries, Nixon, Clay, Anderson, Groves.

Phoenix: Planutis, Austin Jr, Scott-Grayson, Holden, Atwood.

Key Moments

Recent contests between these two sides have been enthralling and this one proved to be no different. Cheshire went out to a 1-5 lead on TJ Atwood’s three from the top of the key but the Sharks squeaked back in front on a 10-4 run; Jacob Groves finishing the first of many Donovan Clay assists. The sides traded baskets until late in the period with Cheshire making the last four baskets of the opening ten minutes. A pair of Skyler White triples were interspersed with buckets for Larry Austin Jr and RJ Eytle-Rock as the visitors took a 22-28 lead.

The ’Nix pushed their advantage out to ten early in the second quarter. Seven points from Tyreek Scott-Grayson made it 25-35 but the visitors saw the influential TJ Atwood leave the contest through a back injury at that point. Nonetheless, new signing Nick Timberlake found success from deep as the Sharks fought back to level the game by half time. Jamell Anderson’s and-one play from an inbound was followed by a Jordan Ratinho drive and a Prentiss Nixon trey on the angle as the sides went in tied at 40-40 at the break.

A 52 point second half took the Sharks to victory and a semi-final berth. Drake Jeffries faked his way to a triple at the start of the third quarter but it wasn’t until Jacob Groves corner three that the Sharks began to edge in front at 52-47. Nixon and Groves repeated the feat and when Groves finished yet another Clay assist, an eleven point differential opened up at 60-49. Cheshire hung around through Cameron Holden but as Rodney Glasgow Jr knocked down another three following some neat ball movement, the Sharks still looked solid at 67-57. Scott-Grayson closed the quarter at 67-60 – the only blemish on the period being an eye injury to an increasingly fired-up Prentiss Nixon.

Scott-Grayson levelled for the Phoenix at 67-67 early in the final stanza but a revitalised Jacob Groves restored the lead through a reverse lay-up and a trey at 72-67. Anderson followed suit but his make was tempered by White at 75-72. A patched-up Prentiss Nixon returned from the mid-point of the quarter to send his side through to the next stage. A pair from the line were followed by two drives into the paint at 85-72 and despite Timberlake and White finding success from beyond the arc late in the game, the Sharks were very effective in closing out the win. Nixon’s three with 12 seconds to play sealed a solid 92-78 success and passage to the semis where the Sharks will meet either Bristol Flyers or Caledonia Gladiators.

MVP

The veteran knowledge of Jamell Anderson was important in gaining victory over Cheshire and it was pleasing to see him going perfect from three and the charity stripe to finish with 8 points, 4 rebounds and 3 assists. The shooting of Jacob Groves, particularly in the second half, also caught the eye. He finished on 71% for a very impressive 23 points that came with 6 rebounds, 1 assist and 2 steals. The ebullient Donovan Clay recorded an effective but unusual double-double. He made 2 field goals and 2 shots from the line for his 6 points but was a beast on the boards, claiming 11 rebounds as well as dishing out 10 assists to demonstrate that he can affect games in a variety of ways. The MVP was the man who literally bleeds for Sheffield. Prentiss Nixon shook off a nasty cut to the eye to go 11 of 18 from the field including 5 big three-pointers to finish with a huge 32 points, 8 rebounds and 3 assists and more-importantly to push the Sharks one step nearer the showpiece final at the Motorpoint Arena in Nottingham.

Next Game

Surrey 89ers v B. Braun Sheffield Sharks, Friday 17th January 2025, Surrey Sports Park, Super League Basketball Championship, 7.30pm tip off

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Adam Bates