Friday 31st January 2025
Super League Basketball Championship
B. Braun Sheffield Sharks 83 Manchester Basketball 75
The B. Braun Sheffield Sharks completed a professional take-down of a more-than-useful Manchester Basketball outfit to keep up the pressure at the top of the SLB Championship table. A solid first half was tempered by a Manchester comeback in the third quarter that saw them edge to within two points at the mid-point of the fourth. The Sharks were thorough in their game management however and held firm for the deserved 83-75 success. Four Sharks put up double-figure performances but it was double-double machine Donovan Clay, who took the MVP honours for his 18 point, 12 rebound outing. Their 11-4 record still sees them tied at the summit of the table with London Lions, who were victors at Newcastle on another thrilling evening of SLB action.
Starting Fives
Sharks: McGill, Nixon, Clay, Ratinho, Groves.
Manchester: Madut, Ashton-Langford, Irvin, Mitchell, Cayo.
Key Moments
The game was low-scoring in the opening stages with Manchester’s Junior Madut taking the visitors out to a 2-5 lead. Donovan Clay proved to be the Sharks saviour with a long two late in the clock that made it 10-7. Jacob Groves open three extended that to 16-9 but a Nathan Cayo turnaround jump shot left the contest nicely balanced at 16-11 on the buzzer.
The Sharks have been notable for big quarters this season and the second period was no different as they poured in another 30 plus haul to take a commanding half time lead. Drake Jeffries came from the bench to good effect with back-to-back triples at 26-17 and a looping Rickey McGill effort kept the momentum going. Cayo’s corner three meant that Manchester never truly went away but a 9-0 run to half time tipped the advantage the Sharks way. Clay dunked off a McGill assist and a Jacob Groves corner trey saw the Sharks into the break ahead by 48-33.
Manchester are a resilient outfit and a 9-0 run of their own at the top of the third quarter began their swing. Madut’s triple ended the run at 48-42 as a sublime double-fake by Groves for three and a long Prentiss Nixon shot restored the lead to double-digits at 54-44. Scottie Lindsey threw down another McGill assist but Manchester chipped away through Cody John, who made it 60-57 with a coast-to-coast drive. The visitors had the better of a 14-24 quarter but a Lindsey steal and basket left the game nicely poised at 62-57.
The Lancastrians got to within two points in the mid-stage of the final stanza but it was the Sharks who held firm for the victory. Zak Irvin’s baseline run made it 67-65 but McGill’s floating and-one play saw the Sharks start to pull away at 73-65. Makai Ashton-Langford closed the gap to four but the game began to unravel for Manchester inside the final minute. Ashton-Langford collected a technical foul and left the game on five fouls and a further tech on the Manchester bench saw Nixon push the lead out to 78-70 from the line. Three makes from the stripe and a drive down the lane saw Nixon control matters in the closing stages and despite Cayo’s late basket, it was the Sharks who were deserved 83-75 victors.
MVP
Drake Jeffries intervention was brief but the Sharks were +10 during the near 16 minutes he played to go with his 6 points and 4 boards. Four Sharks put up healthy double figure scores. Jacob Groves made 3 of 5 from beyond the arc for his 17 points and his points total was matched by Rickey McGill, who also claimed 3 rebounds, 5 assists, 3 steals and a blocked shot. Prentiss Nixon made 4 out of 5 free throws, including some important ones down the stretch to finish with a very welcome 18 points but the MVP honours went the way of the double-double machine Donovan Clay. He shot 62% for his 18 point haul, which also came with 12 rebounds, 3 assists and a block and a whole heap of energy and enthusiasm as the Sharks kept up the pressure at the top of the standings.
Next Game
Bristol Flyers v B. Braun Sheffield Sharks, Friday 7th February 2025, SGS College Arena, Super League Basketball Cup Semi Final 1st Leg, 7.30pm tip off
Image
Adam Bates
