Ton-up Sharks bounce back against Bristol

Sunday 3rd November 2024

Super League Basketball Championship

B. Braun Sheffield Sharks 102 Bristol Flyers 90

The B. Braun Sheffield Sharks bounced back from defeat in London on Friday with a century of points against visitors Bristol Flyers. Despite being eleven points down in a nervous first quarter, the Sharks battled back admirably to see six players in double-figure scoring for a notable victory. The 102-90 scoreline may even have been wider had it not been for some late Bristol baskets but another 24 point haul from Rodney Chatman caught the eye as the Sharks went 1-1 for the fledgling Championship campaign.

Starting Fives

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

Flyers: Sherfield, Samuels, Thomas-Edwards, Robinson, Lewis.

Key Moments

Baskets were traded to the mid-point of the first quarter when Drake Jeffries levelled the game for the Sharks at 14-14 with an assured three point shot. Bristol’s Trey Tennyson, who went 6 of 10 from beyond the arc, went to work for the visitors with three big makes, sending the score out to 16-27. Sharks’ new signing Donovan Clay signalled his arrival with two enthusiastic baskets and then went coast to coast to allow Jordan Ratinho to make the and-one score that closed the quarter at 21-27.

The Sharks, missing Jamell Anderson and Mike Ochereobia, could have capitulated having gone behind but quite to the contrary, replied with an outstanding 31-16 second period. EC Matthews commenced the basket-fest with a three from the wing before Rodney Chatman took over. Three consecutive assists to Clay and Matthews were followed by a triple of his own as the score became 37-31 in the Sharks favour. Matthews joined the party by eurostepping to the hoop for another and-one score and Rodney Glasgow opened up a 12 point gap, shaking and baking his way to the basket. A Jared Sherfield trey for the Flyers ended the half at 52-43.

The third quarter was almost as impressive. Clay continued to impress on debut, making it 64-47 and when Prentiss Nixon sold a delicious dummy for three, the Flyers looked dead and buried at 71-52. Jeffries, Matthews and Chatman made effortless triples and it took an Evan Walshe basket on the buzzer to keep the deficit to a mere 20 for Bristol at 80-60.

Donovan Clay’s putback early in the fourth gave the Sharks their biggest lead at 84-60 as the foot came slightly off the gas for the final five minutes. Jared Sherfield and Demond Robinson found success from deep but It was highly appropriate that Clay took the Sharks through the 100 point barrier with a minute to go. Rodney Chatman wrapped up the scoring for the afternoon as the Sharks took great delight in their 102-90 win.

MVP

Six Sharks in double-figure scoring were key to an uncharacteristic high-scoring win over the normally parsimonious Flyers. Drake Jeffries and Prentiss Nixon set the ball rolling with 10 and 12 respectively and the returning Jacob Groves caught the eye for 14 points, 5 rebounds, 3 assists and a steal made on 6 of 7 shooting. There was a very impressive debut for Donovan Clay, who despite only entering the UK on Friday, contributed a fine 14 point, 11 rebound double-double and made his presence felt acutely. A very polished EC Matthews looked completely assured with an excellent 21 points, 5 rebounds, 1 assist and a steal which came on 81% shooting and was only marginally behind the eventual MVP. Rodney Chatman led the Sharks scoring with 24 points and facilitated for his team-mates on 9 occasions to see the honours go his way once again.

Next game

Leicester Riders v B. Braun Sheffield Sharks, Friday 8th November 2024, Mattioli Arena, Super League Basketball Championship, 7.30pm Tip Off

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Adam Bates