Sharks tough out consecutive wins in Caledonia

Friday 25th April 2025

Super League Basketball Championship

Caledonia Gladiators 83 B. Braun Sheffield Sharks 87

It was another extremely close affair but the B. Braun Sheffield Sharks showed some grit to tough out an 83-87 win in East Kilbride against Caledonia Gladiators. The hosts recovered from an early Sharks salvo to lead by as many as 12 points in the first quarter and took a 6 point advantage into half time. The Sharks finally ascended into the lead early in the final period and despite plenty of back and forth plays, kept the Scots at arms length down the stretch for a hard-fought victory. Like the previous encounter, six Sharks provided double-figure scoring but it was the 12 minute cameo of Prentiss Nixon that gleaned the MVP award for his 18 points. The Sharks remain in third place in the standings following second-placed Leicester’s win over Newcastle ahead of Sunday’s final regular season game at home to league winners London Lions.

Starting Fives

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

Sharks: McGill, Clay, Ratinho, Glasgow Jr, Groves.

Key Moments

A pair of Rodney Glasgow Jr three pointers gave the Sharks an electric 0-8 start at the Gladiators’ Playsport venue. Things still looked promising when Rickey McGill continued the shootout to make it 5-11 but Caledonia levelled the encounter at 13-13 on a Fraser Malcolm corner triple. Parity continued on Jacob Groves spin move at 15-15 but a 12-2 run from the Scots saw them take the game away from Atiba Lyons’ side. Fahro Alihodzic took the score to 27-17 and made the gap 12 shortly after at 31-19. A buzzer-beater from the returning Prentiss Nixon reduced the deficit with the Gladiators still very much in charge.

Nixon continued his efficient shooting display with an and-one play at 33-28 but as the Sharks went into the bonus with six minutes remaining in the half, Caledonia pushed the lead back out to ten on a pair of Patrick Whelan free throws at 39-29. The Gladiators themselves hit foul trouble with almost four minutes to go. Jacob Groves and Donovan Clay profited from trips to the line but an Alihodzic basket concluded the scoring for the half at 43-37.

The game could have unravelled for the Scots at the start of the third quarter as technical fouls on Whelan and Coach Jonny Bunyan saw Prentiss Nixon successful from the line with four shots to make it 47-41. Former Shark Devearl Ramsey continued a superlative shooting evening with a huge arc-ing trey but a friendly bounce on a Jordan Ratinho triple kept the Sharks in touch at 57-51. A big night of distance shooting was reflected in the end to the third stanza. McGill’s stepback effort was followed by a reply from Caledonia’s Princeton Onwas but it was Sharks skipper Rodney Glasgow Jr, who ensured a tight final ten minutes would follow with the score at 64-61.

Jamell Anderson’s corner triple from the corner finally saw the Sharks back into the lead at 64-66 but a further technical on Mike Ochereobia put the Scots back ahead. The lead was traded for fully two minutes but as Caledonia went into the penalty, Prentiss Nixon gave the Sharks the chink of light they needed from the line at 75-77. The Yorkshire side kept the Gladiators at arms-length until a calm Rickey McGill one-handed finish made it 81-85 with 20 seconds remaining. Ramsey found success from the stripe at 83-85 but Prentiss Nixon wrapped up a perfect night from the line to secure a hard-fought 83-87 victory.

MVP

It was another tough encounter north of the border but six Sharks contributed double-figure scoring to claim their 21st win of the season. Ten point outings from Jamell Anderson and Donovan Clay were followed by 13 point displays from Jacob Groves and skipper Rodney Glasgow Jr, who went 3 of 5 from beyond the arc. Rickey McGill made some cool finishes for his 15 points, 2 rebounds, 5 assists and a steal but it was a 12 minute 23 second cameo from the returning Prentiss Nixon that took the MVP award. His 18 points included a perfect 10 out of 10 from the charity stripe to carefully manage his minutes ahead of the playoffs to follow.

Next Game

B. Braun Sheffield Sharks v London Lions, Sunday 25th April 2025, Canon Medical Arena, Super League Basketball Championship, 4.00pm tip off

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Caledonia Gladiators