Short handed Sharks go down in final Trophy game

Sunday 27th October 2024

Super League Basketball Trophy Group Stage

Manchester Basketball 87 B. Braun Sheffield Sharks 68

A short-handed B. Braun Sheffield Sharks went down in their final Super League Basketball Trophy group stage game by 87-68 at Manchester Basketball. The Sharks were without Mike Ochereobia and Rodney Chatman for the dead rubber and were competitive with their eight man roster until the final quarter when Manchester pulled away by 22-11 to take the win. The Sharks finish with a 4-4 record in the Trophy ahead of Championship play which begins on Friday.

Key Moments

The Sharks claimed a slender 18-21 first quarter lead. Jamell Anderson's triple kickstarted their scoring for the afternoon but Manchester went into lead at 10-5 on Nathan Cayo's reply. A Jordan Ratinho effort narrowed the deficit at 14-12 and a Rodney Glasgow pull-up ended the opening period.

The gap remained at three by half time. The three point shooting continued apace as EC Matthews claimed three makes for the Sharks and Reyad West announced his arrival on to the team with his first points in Sharks jersey at 35-36. Matthews final triple ended the half at 37-40.

Given that the game had nothing riding on it for both sides, the additional freedom allowed by only 20 fouls being called meant that the distance shooting continued in the second half. Manchester took the quarter by 28-17 on the back of big makes from Donovan Mitchell, Nathan Cayo and Nicholas Lewis. EC Matthews kept the Sharks in touch at 53-54 and a Jordan Ratinho trey ended the quarter at 65-57.

The short-handed Sharks ran out of steam in the final stanza as Manchester doubled the output of their visitors. Three more successes from deep by Mitchell pushed them into an 87-66 lead and it was a Jordan Ratinho layup that ended the scoring for the afternoon with 1.07 still to play.

MVP

Reyad West made his first points in a Sharks jersey from just over 9 minutes of court time. Drake Jeffries, Jamell Anderson and Jordan Ratinho all contributed 8 points each and going one better was Jacob Groves, despite not playing in the fourth quarter. The MVP was a clear stand out however. EC Matthews went 9 of 17 from the field, making 5 of his 9 three point attempts to end with 23 points, 4 rebounds, 1 steal and 1 blocked shot.

Next Game

Friday 1st November 2024, London Lions v B. Braun Sheffield Sharks, Super League Basketball Championship, Copperbox Arena, 7.30pm tip off

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Peter Simmons