Wednesday 25th March 2026
Super League Basketball Championship
London Lions 87 B. Braun Sheffield Sharks 67
A short-handed B. Braun Sheffield Sharks ran out of steam against champions-elect London Lions with a 20 point defeat in the capital. The Sharks, without William Lee on the night, played their part in an entertaining contest but succumbed to the stacked Lions line-up as Tautvydas Sabonis’ men ran out 87-67 victors. Fahro Alihodzic and Dirk Williams put up double-figure scoring efforts for the Sharks but it was Rodney Chatman III, who caught the eye for his 7 assists on the night. The Sharks now take a 50% record on 12-12 and match up against Surrey 89ers on Sunday – the Guildford-based outfit having a 3-0 league advantage so far this season.
Starting Fives
Lions: Price, Brown Jr, McGusty, Williams D, Reynolds Jr.
Sharks: Williams, Chatman III, Ratinho, Kern Jr, Alihodzic.
Key Moments
The Sharks were reasonably competitive in an enjoyable first quarter. Jordan Ratinho and Rodney Chatman III traded threes with Chaundee Brown Jr and Deane Williams for the Lions and a highlight fake and dunk from Nick Kern Jr put the Sharks ahead by 8-10. Deane Williams followed that with a slam of his own as an 8-0 run saw the Sharks calling for time at 20-12. The Sharks got within touching distance towards the end of the quarter but a steal on the buzzer saw Tarik Phillip give the hosts a 26-19 advantage.
The Sharks fought back with a 7-0 burst of their own at the top of the second period. Rodney Glasgow Jr’s three in transition levelled the game at 26-26 but an 8-0 reply from the Lions saw them ahead once more on Brown’s bucket at 34-26. The lead kept flitting between 8 and 10 points only to be reduced to 6 when Fahro Alihodzic’s assist to Nick Kern saw him finish on the alleyoop at 42-36. Dirk Williams found success from deep but Shavar Reynolds Jr ended the half with the score at 47-39.
The difference increased to 10 on Reynolds’ dagger trey which made it 53-43 and London gradually increased the pressure when Amin Adamu converted in the corner to make it 60-47. GB international Tarik Phillip added five points late in the period and despite a pair of Dirk Williams free throws, the signs were ominous with the score at 68-54.
A 19-13 final stanza saw the Lions ease to a comfortable win. London hit the bonus with 8.38 still to play in the game but the Sharks failed to capitalise, missing 12 free throws on the night. The gap became 8 as Dirk Williams went coast to coast with the score at 69-61 but that was about as good as it got for the Sharks. Nine late points for Aaryn Rai and an open Shavar Reynolds three made certain of the win as London dribbled the game out with the score at 87-67.
MVP
The Sharks missed the game of William Lee at both ends of the floor with only three Sharks putting up double figure scores. Fahro Alihodzic contributed some highly-effective plays for a polished 11 points, 4 rebounds, 3 assists and 2 steals. Leading the Sharks scoring effort was Dirk Williams. His 15 points came with 6 boards, 2 assists and a steal but the Sharks ‘man most likely to’ was Rodney Chatman III. His 14 points saw him go a perfect 7 of 7 from the line and his 5 rebounds, 7 assists and 3 steals gave him an eye-catching statline. A wider team contribution will be needed as the Sharks look to defeat nemesis Surrey 89ers in their next fixture.
Next Game
B. Braun Sheffield Sharks v Surrey 89ers, Sunday 29th March 2026, Canon Medical Arena, 4.00pm Tip Off.
Image
Adam Bates
