Sharks book their place in Cup Final

Sunday 9th February 2025

Super League Basketball Cup Semi Final 2nd Leg

B. Braun Sheffield Sharks 66 Bristol Flyers 63 (Sharks win 154-127 on aggregate)

The B. Braun Sheffield Sharks are headed to Nottingham! Atiba Lyons’ men booked their place in the SLB Cup Final in a game more akin to traditional Sharks / Flyers battles after their 24 point win in Bristol on Friday evening. The Flyers led for more than 20 minutes of the Sunday afternoon scrap but a 10-0 run late in the third quarter turned the tables in the Sharks favour as they toughed out a 66-63 success and a 154-127 victory on aggregate. Rickey McGill went perfect from the line for 17 points overall to collect the MVP award and put the full stop on his side’s passage to the March 9th showpiece event.

Starting Fives

Sharks: McGill, Nixon, Clay, Ratinho, Anderson.

Flyers: Johnson, Louis, Robinson, Lewis, Walshe.

Key Moments

With a sizeable deficit to claw back, it was predictable that Bristol would start with intent. Kendall Lewis’ three gave them an early 2-7 lead and it took a Jordan Ratinho riposte to level matters. A 9-0 run put the Sharks ahead by 11-7 but they would only make 2 more points to the quarter end. Evan Walshe twice connected from deep and with Keddy Johnson draining three from the line, it was the Flyers who ended the opening period 13-19 to the good.

A 0-11 streak for Bristol crossed into the second quarter as Pasquale Landolfi’s corner triple saw the Sharks calling for time. It had the desired effect with Rickey McGill dishing to Donovan Clay for a dunk, followed by Prentiss Nixon making a quick-release three. The game deficit came down to two as Nixon fed Jamell Anderson down the lane to make it 25-27 but the eye-catching Lewis added a further 5 points to make it 27-34. Drake Jeffries drained back-to-back treys but Alain Louis’ late basket gave the visitors a 33-40 advantage.

A 19-10 third stanza saw the Sharks ramp-up the intensity to claim a narrow game-day lead. Bristol’s Kendall Lewis and the Sharks’ Rickey McGill faced off individually with the Flyers man pouring in 8 points and the Sheffield guard making 11 as the hosts levelled at 48-48. Donovan Clay’s pair from the stripe ended a 10-0 streak and despite Keddy Johnson scoring on the buzzer, it was the Sharks who headed into the final ten minutes 52-50 in front.

Lewis levelled for the Flyers once again but a Jamell Anderson trey from the top of the key and three shots from the line by Scottie Lindsey saw a distinct gap open up at 60-52. Bristol got back within two due to the athletic Keddy Johnson but a Nixon jumpshot and a Lindsey bucket along the baseline restored the balance of things. With the overall result as good as confirmed, the Sharks introduced Reyad West for valuable game time as the final 30 seconds saw Lewis and Johnson make scores in vain. The 66-63 scoreline reflected a tough contest on the day but the 154-127 aggregate result showed that it was the Sharks who deserved to head to the March 9th showpiece spectacle.

MVP

Jordan Ratinho had a 50% success rate from the field that included two exquisite triples on his way to a solid 10 point, 7 rebound afternoon. It wasn’t quite a double-double on this occasion but Donovan Clay wasn’t too far off the mark for his 14 point, 8 rebound display that also came with two valuable blocked shots. In a game of fine margins, it was Rickey McGill who took the MVP honours however. He made it 32 points across the two games as he showed his Sunday best for 17 points, 5 boards, 3 assists and 4 steals with a notable perfect 6 of 6 from the charity stripe as the Sharks booked their passage to the inaugural final to be held in Nottingham.

Next Game

B. Braun Sheffield Sharks v Manchester Basketball, Wednesday 12th February 2025, Canon Medical Arena, Super League Basketball Championship, 7.30pm tip off

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Adam Bates