Tough schedule sees Sharks come up just short in Plymouth

Sunday 1st October 2023

British Basketball League Regular Season

Plymouth City Patriots 92 B. Braun Sheffield Sharks 87

Back to back road games proved a step too far for the B. Braun Sheffield Sharks as they went down to a close 92-87 defeat at Plymouth City Patriots. A 3pm tip off after finishing at 7pm the previous evening presented a tough challenge for the Sharks who fought back from 21 points down to make it a single possession game inside the final minute. Fatigue finally took its toll as the home side claimed a five point win despite a breakout game for RJ Eytle Rock, who finished with a 20 point haul.

Starting Fives

Patriots: Wiley, Dusha, Johnson T, Atwood, Faulkner.

Sharks: Ramsey, Allen, Pipkins, Ratinho, Adekoya.

Key Moments

Despite their overtime exertions in Surrey the previous evening, the Sharks methodically went out to a 2-7 lead on a fine spin and fake move from Jubril Adekoya. TJ Atwood drew Plymouth closer from the line as the score became 10-11 but RJ Eytle Rock drained a triple from the top of the key to restore a gap. Bennett Koch’s second foul was a blow to the Sharks as Atwood converted an and-one play and fellow guard Mason Faulkner hit three from the charity stripe. Eytle Rock’s basket on the buzzer ensured parity at 18-18 by the quarter end.

The Sharks were clearly leggy in a 28-11 second quarter as Joe Hart and Jacob Wiley found success from deep with the score at 34-22. Eytle Rock, benefitting from necessary additional court time, hit his second treble of the contest but drives to the hoop by Atwood and Faulkner saw the Sharks with a half time mountain to climb at 46-29.

Bennett Koch hit the four foul mark early in the third quarter as the difference became 21 on Wiley’s bucket at 52-31. Ten Kipper Nichols points gave the Sharks a fighting chance. Corner threes by Jordan Ratinho and Jalon Pipkins showed the visitors willingness to dig deep and the gap had narrowed to 68-59 by the time Devearl Ramsey had closed out the period from the line.

The Sharks did everything they could to cling on to Plymouth’s coat-tails for the first five minutes of the final stanza. Adekoya was heavily involved given Koch’s enforced spell on the bench and it was his steal that allowed Pipkins to make it 78-73. Enter Nichols once again. His basket in transition brought it down to three at 81-78, maintained by Eytle Rock at 84-81 and then reduced to two as the former Barking Abbey man made it 85-83 from the line. The Sharks amazing resolve was broken by Faulkner’s corner three with 19 seconds to go and a series of timeouts and trips to the line saw the Patriots close out a tense 92-87 victory.

MVP

As fatigue kicked in, Kipper Nichols was a spur to the Sharks, making key shots on his way to 14 points, 6 rebounds, 1 assist and 2 steals. It was another 70% shooting night for offensive talisman Jalon Pipkins, who finished with 17 points, 2 rebounds and 2 steals. A breakout performance saw the MVP plaudits go the way of RJ Eytle Rock however. The Utah State standout put up the best display of his rookie professional season, going 5 of 6 from the field to finish with fine stats of 20 points, 4 rebounds, 2 assists and a steal from 24 minutes of court time.

Next game

Bristol Flyers v B. Braun Sheffield Sharks, Friday October 6th 2023, SGS College Arena, 7.30pm Tip Off.

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Adam Bates