Sunday 5th October 2025
Super League Basketball Championship
B. Braun Sheffield Sharks 77 Caledonia Gladiators 71
It feels like they are battling against adversity at the moment but the B. Braun Sheffield Sharks dug deep to keep Caledonia Gladiators at arms length and claim another Super League Basketball win. The Sharks slowly went through the gears despite a first quarter injury to Jalen DeLoach that shortened their roster even further. The talisman for the 77-71 victory was Dirk Williams with an MVP display but there were also useful performances from Nick Kern Jr and Mike Ochereobia, who had to shoulder a lot of the burden as sole big man. The Sharks join Bristol Flyers on a 3-1 record for a share of second place ahead of a trip to Cheshire Phoenix next Sunday.
Starting Fives
Sharks: Williams, Nixon, Chatman, Ratinho, DeLoach
Gladiators: Allen, Jimenez, Holland, Fagbenle, Speelman
Key Moments
After a relatively even start, it was Dirk Williams who drained the three from a Mike Ochereobia offensive rebound to give the hosts a 7-6 lead. He repeated the feat with an even longer triple at 12-7 as a pair of mid range jumpers for the Sharks’ Rodney Glasgow Jr and Caledonia’s Daniel Carr saw the first quarter end at 16-10.
The Sharks lead went out to eleven on a Nick Kern and-one play at 21-10 but it was old school Gladiators centre Kevin Allen who started a revival for the Scots. He hooked his way to the hoop and they made a tough left handed finish in a nine point spell as the score became 25-19. Caledonia went into the penalty with a shade under five and a half minutes to play but the Sharks were only able to capitalise through three free throws from Prentiss Nixon. Allen continued his way relentlessly to 21 points by half time but a catch and shoot Dirk Williams trey and a one-handed William Lee dunk saw the Sharks marginally in front at 36-30 by the break.
Allen picked up where he left off before half time with the opening basket of the second half but the Sharks were successful in restricting him to just six points in the final two quarters. The Scots did pull to within three through Jet Speelman and Rian Holland at 42-39 but it was Nick Kern who restored a double digit lead for the Sharks at 51-41. The gap remained at ten despite Fraser Malcolm finishing a Kyle Jimenez assist to close the period at 53-43.
The Gladiators kept threatening throughout the final stanza but whenever they did, the Sharks replied. Matthew Ragsdale hit a deep three early in the quarter but eight quick points from the enthusiastic Nick Kern extended the lead at 64-49. The veteran wiles of Mike Ochereobia gave the Sharks their biggest lead at 68-50 but Caledonia kept plugging away through Speelman with three from the wing and Ethan Wright, who followed suit. Fittingly, it was Dirk Williams’ fifth three-pointer of the afternoon that all but sealed victory; Toto Fagbenle bringing the scoring to a close at 77-71.
MVP
It wasn’t the prettiest game to watch but the effectively eight-man Sharks did enough to keep Caledonia at arms length and claim the win. Shouldering the burden of the forward play was veteran Mike Ochereobia. He was perfect from the field and the free throw line and pulled down 8 vital rebounds to finish with 12 points and a positive ten while ever he was on court. The youthful enthusiasm of Nick Kern Jr shone out, particularly in the second half. His 19 points came at a decent 53 percent clip and with 6 rebounds, he too shouldered the defensive burden. It was a vintage display from Dirk Williams that claimed the MVP award however. His 25 points included 5 of 8 shooting from three to go with 4 rebounds, 2 assists, 1 steal and a blocked shot and most importantly, another notch in the win column.
Next Game
Cheshire Phoenix v B. Braun Sheffield Sharks, Sunday 12th October 2025, Cheshire Oaks Arena, 5.30pm Tip Off
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Adam Bates
