Sharks sign off for the break with huge Leicester victory

Sunday 17th November 2024

Super League Basketball Championship

B. Braun Sheffield Sharks 79 Leicester Riders 61

The B. Braun Sheffield Sharks signed off before the international break with their biggest Championship win over the Leicester Riders since 20th March 2009. The Sharks came back from eight points down in the opening quarter to record the 79-61 victory in a very professional fashion. Defensive intensity matched the Sharks known offensive output as Atiba Lyons’ men dominated the boards and the paint. Another 20 point haul for Rodney Chatman took the MVP honours but it was the team ethos that took the eye as the Sharks move to 3-2 for the Championship campaign.

Starting Fives

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

Riders: Abercrombie, Hunter, Wright, Jackson, Thompson.

Key Moments

The Sharks took a 6-3 lead on a pair of Rodney Chatman free throws but the only blemish on an otherwise faultless display was the eight point gap that Leicester opened up towards the end of the first quarter. Zach Jackson and Ethan Wright landed dagger threes and a Jaylin Hunter basket took the score out to 11-19. Chatman and EC Matthews reduced the deficit but it was the Riders who held a 15-22 opening period advantage.

The Sharks, whose scoring abilities have been clear to see this season so far, turned the defensive screw as well in an outstanding 19-1 run. Rodney Glasgow’s triple in transition was matched by Matthews and when Prentiss Nixon’s deft flick hit the net, the tables had been turned at 32-23. A Riley Abercrombie trey and three Charles Thompson buckets finally broke the spell for Leicester but it was the Sharks who took a 36-32 lead into half time.

Equally devastating was the 26-16 third quarter as the Sharks and in particular Rodney Chatman, went on the rampage. He dished out to Jordan Ratinho and twice to Donovan Clay as well as adding 7 points of his own as a 13-2 streak took the score out to 49-34. The Sharks even managed more than four minutes in the penalty as a pair of Mike Ochereobia hook shots and Prentiss Nixon drive into the paint ended the stanza at 62-48.

Unlike the previous week in Cheshire, there was to be no capitulation by the Sharks down the stretch. Chatman’s long two was followed by a corner three from recent GB call-up Jamell Anderson making the score 73-50. Jaylin Hunter took himself to 18 points from the charity stripe and three late Riley Abercrombie baskets gave Leicester’s score a degree of credibility but in truth, the Sharks had been thoroughly professional in claiming their 79-61 success.

MVP

The Sharks dominated the boards to the tune of 40-26 and claimed the battle of the paint by 44-24 as offence and defence were as perfect as the half time marriage proposal that took place at the Canon Medical Arena. Prentiss Nixon and EC Matthews both contributed 11 points apiece and there was another all-action 13 point, 7 rebound outing for Donovan Clay. It was truly a team display but it was hard to see beyond Rodney Chatman once again for the MVP honours. His 20 points came on 8 of 14 shooting with 6 rebounds, 5 assists, 3 steals and a blocked shot for an eye-popping efficiency rating of 28 in a very memorable win.

Next game

Manchester Basketball v B. Braun Sheffield Sharks, Sunday 1st December 2024, National Basketball Performance Centre, Super League Basketball Championship, 3.00pm Tip Off

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Adam Bates