Solid win kicks off home double header for Sharks

Friday 6th December 2024

Super League Basketball Championship

B. Braun Sheffield Sharks 86 Caledonia Gladiators 71

The first game of a home weekend double-header ended in a solid victory for the B. Braun Sheffield Sharks over Caledonia Gladiators. Two twenty nine point quarters took Atiba Lyons’ side to a healthy 58-32 half time lead with a gap that stretched out to 29 early in the second half. Caledonia, led by new Coach Robbie Peers and boasting three new signings, took the third and fourth quarters by a combined 28-39 but in truth, the Sharks never looked likely to give up their advantage. Donovan Clay impressed for the Sharks with 23 points and 9 rebounds, who can now claim top spot in the Super League Basketball Championship with victory over Surrey on Sunday afternoon.

Starting Fives

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

Gladiators: Wilson-Frame, Malcolm, Onwas, Whelan, Alihodzic.

Key Moments

Two 29 point quarters set the tone for another solid Sharks victory. Princeton Onwas shot the Gladiators into the lead with a corner triple but that was about as good as it got for the Scots. Jacob Groves and Rodney Glasgow both made three pointers as the Sharks went through the gears at 16-8 and a further 10-2 run concluded on a pair of Prentiss Nixon free throws with the score at 26-13. By this stage, the Sharks couldn’t miss and a one-handed, off-balance shot on the buzzer from Jordan Ratinho concluded the quarter at 29-15.

Another 29 points sailed through the hoop in the second period. Patrick Whelan turned and let fly to open the quarter for Caledonia but Sharks talisman Rodney Chatman proved to be his equal, shaking and baking his way to a trey at 40-25. The fifty point barrier was broken by Groves from the top of the key and a foul 0.9 seconds before the half time buzzer saw Chatman drain three from the line to send the teams in at 58-32 at the break.

A sizeable triple from Chatman opened the second half and took the Sharks out to their biggest lead of the game, 29 points, with the score at 61-32. Donovan Clay, who impressed all evening for the Sharks with his energy, exchanged passes with Groves before dunking home at 63-34 but beyond that, the intensity dropped slightly. Gladiators’ new signing Jared Wilson-Frame hit his second trey of the game to begin their revival, which was followed by 6 points from fellow new recruit Elijah Cain. The third of the new signings, Malik Dunbar, found the rim at 69-50 but despite a 16-18 quarter in favour of Caledonia, the Sharks were well in command at 73-50.

Similarly, the Gladiators took the fourth quarter by 13-21 but the damage had already been done in the first half. Seven points for Princeton Onwas took him to Caledonia’s team high of 18 but once again they were hampered by going into the bonus with more than three minutes still to play. Prentiss Nixon’s jump shot allayed any fears of a Scottish rally and a Jacob Groves putback inside the final minute all-but-sealed the victory. Onwas hit the final basket of the game but it was the Sharks who could declare themselves satisfied with a very solid 86-71 win.

MVP

The efficient shooting of Jacob Groves took him to 12 points, making 62% of his attempts and a perfect 7 out of 7 from the line for Prentiss Nixon contributed to his 15 points, 7 rebounds, 2 assists and a steal. The line was also Rodney Chatman’s friend with 8 of 9 successful attempts on his way to 19 points, 7 boards, 3 assists and a steal but it was an ebullient performance from Donovan Clay that took the MVP plaudits. He finished just short of a double-double with 23 points on 50% shooting and 9 rebounds, 1 assist, 2 steals and a blocked shot for a sizeable efficiency rating of 27. Stats aside, it was Clay’s enthusiasm and energy that caught the eye as the Sharks edged nearer to the summit of the league table.

Next game

B. Braun Sheffield Sharks v Surrey 89ers, Sunday 8th December 2024, Canon Medical Arena, Super League Basketball Championship, 4.00pm Tip Off

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Adam Bates