Sharks go down in epic London road battle

Wednesday 18th December 2024

Super League Basketball Championship

London Lions 80 B. Braun Sheffield Sharks 77

It was every bit as epic as expected but sadly the B. Braun Sheffield Sharks went down by three points on the road at London Lions. The Sharks were down by as many as 17 points in the middle of the second quarter but made the necessary adjustments to take the lead early in the fourth. The sides were separated by just two points going into the final minute but Donovan Clay’s accurate three pointer to tie the contest was marginally after the buzzer as the Lions took an 80-77 win. London replace the Sharks as the new leaders of the Championship with Atiba Lyons’ men moving to a 6-3 record. Jacob Groves produced another 16 point haul but it was Donovan Clay with the same points tally who took the MVP honours for the Sharks.

Starting Fives

Lions: Brisker, Sandy, Adebayo, Rai, Hadzibegovic.

Sharks: Nixon, Chatman, Clay, Ratinho, Groves.

Key Moments

London looked to protect home court from the off as Michael Brisker (5) and Alen Hadzibegovic (4) shot them into a 9-4 lead. Aaryn Rai extended that to 16-9 and it took a Drake Jeffries alleyoop to begin a Sharks fightback. Rodney Chatman made an and-one high off the glass to narrow the gap at 18-4 but free throws from GB vet Ovie Soko and a Jaiden Delaire basket saw the Lions in front by 25-14.

A Drake Jeffries corner three was the sole high point of the opening stages of the second quarter. The Sharks were a little out of sorts as Ciaran Sandy extended their advantage to 17 points at 39-22. The Sharks went into the zone and matters improved. Triples from Jacob Groves and Donovan Clay chipped away at the deficit and six points from Mike Ochereobia ended a 2-11 run to make the half time score 43-36.

A 21-26 third period in the Sharks favour reduced the gap to two points. Delaire’s triple was matched by an open Jordan Ratinho for the Sharks and when Sandy banked another home, Ratinho was there to reply again at 55-48. The Sharks were showing greater fight by now as a prone Prentiss Nixon fed Rodney Chatman, whose lob was converted by Groves to make it 55-52. Two 3 point plays by Nixon saw him on to the scoreboard and a pair of Chatman free throws ended the quarter at 64-62.

Chatman drew a clever foul at the top of the fourth stanza that saw him make 3 from the stripe as the Sharks took their first lead of the contest at 66-67. Groves corner trey emphasised that moments later but the Sharks headed into the bonus with a sizeable 5.43 still to play. Despite London’s efforts to pull away, Chatman’s triple kept the game very much alive at 77-73. London too hit the bonus but with only 90 seconds to go, as four points from Clay kept it a one possession affair at 79-77. A Jaiden Delaire free throw made it 80-77 but with Clay’s successful three pointer coming marginally after the buzzer, it was the Lions who ascended back to the top of the Championship standings.

MVP

Drake Jeffries kickstarted the Sharks on offence, shooting at 66% for his 10 points, 1 rebound and 1 assist evening. It was another dime-heavy evening for Rodney Chatman, who also went 8 of 9 from the line to finish with 13 points, 8 rebounds and 9 assists. Jacob Groves missed just a single shot from the field for his 16 points, 8 boards and 3 assists but having gone 3 of 4 from the line, it was Donovan Clay who just pipped him to the MVP award. Clay also made it into a positive plus / minus for his 16 point, 7 rebound, 2 assist, 1 steal outing but the Sharks couldn’t maintain their lead on this occasion.

Next game

Newcastle Eagles v B. Braun Sheffield Sharks, Friday 27th December 2024, Vertu Motors Arena, Super League Basketball Championship, 7.30pm Tip Off

Image

Adam Bates