Sharks suffer midweek loss to Caledonia

Wednesday 2nd April 2025

Super League Basketball Championship

B. Braun Sheffield Sharks 74 Caledonia Gladiators 81

The B. Braun Sheffield Sharks suffered a shock midweek defeat to bottom side Caledonia Gladiators. After the Sharks shaded a close first quarter, the Scots pulled away to a 34-42 half time advantage and maintained that lead through the third and fourth periods to claim a 74-81 win. Former Shark Devearl Ramsey was a thorn in his former employers side with a 16 point, 11 assist double-double as the Sharks relied heavily on Donovan Clay and home MVP Rickey McGill, who finished with 20 points, 7 rebounds and 8 assists. The Sharks now sit in second place in the standings with a 17-7 record ahead of the visit of Bristol Flyers on Sunday.

Starting Fives

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

Gladiators: Ramsey, Barnes, Malcolm, Fagbenle, Speelman.

Key Moments

After Drake Jeffries early three on the angle, Caledonia moved impressively into a 6-9 lead on a Fraser Malcolm trey. Rickey McGill pulled all the strings for the Sharks. His nonchalant three was followed by a long two and a deft assist to Donovan Clay, who dunked home at 12-13. McGill laid in on James Reese’s quarterback pass and then recorded his eleventh point of the quarter on some neat ball movement at 21-17. Fahro Alihodzic’s hook shot for Caledonia inside the final thirty seconds capped a close opening ten minutes at 21-19.

The Sharks were outplayed in a 13-23 second quarter. Princeton Onwas forced the Sharks to talk it over at 21-26 and even a distance shot from Jamell Anderson on Prentiss Nixon’s kickout failed to break the Scots resolve. Jett Speelman, recently promoted to a starting berth for Caledonia, showed that he was a capable three point shooter, connecting twice at 28-37 and a dagger triple from Trevond Barnes opened up a deficit of 12 at 30-42. Jamell Anderson effected a steal and finished at the rim but it was the Gladiators in charge at 34-42.

There was little reaction from the Sharks after the interval. Barnes’ hook made the difference nine with Jacob Groves’ corner three being the Sharks sole riposte. A big three from Malcolm was followed by a long arc-ing triple from the ever-busy Devearl Ramsey to make it 49-59 and the Gladiators confirmed their biggest lead of the contest when another Speelman three took the score out to 50-66. A pair of Jacob Groves free throws tempered matters but Caledonia were still very much in charge at 54-66.

A Sharks fourth quarter rally proved to be too little too late. Nine Prentiss Nixon points saw the Sharks chip away at the gap until it became one on a thrilling spin move at 72-73. Despite Caledonia being in the bonus, Speelman’s fourth triple of the game and a Ramsey jump shot saw them pull away once more. The Sharks had fouls to give but as shots failed to drop, a Trevond Barnes free throw wrapped up a 74-81 win for the men from north of the border.

MVP

The Sharks were heavily reliant on three players for the bulk of the contest. The early stages saw Donovan Clay deeply involved and he battled away in trademark fashion to end with 16 points, 8 rebounds and 6 assists. A big fourth quarter took Prentiss Nixon to 21 points including a perfect 7 of 7 from the free throw line. The MVP was hot from the off. Rickey McGill finished with 20 points, 7 rebounds, 8 assists, 3 steals and a blocked shot in an all action display. Lack of contribution from elsewhere made it a tough night for the Sharks who will look to regroup against Bristol on Sunday.

Next Game

B. Braun Sheffield Sharks v Bristol Flyers, Sunday 6th April 2025, Canon Medical Arena, Super League Basketball Championship, 4.00pm tip off

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Adam Bates