Tough Sharks rack up win number nine in Bristol

Saturday 1st March 2025

Super League Basketball Championship

Bristol Flyers 67 B. Braun Sheffield Sharks 74

The B. Braun Sheffield Sharks demonstrated their toughness once again, making it 9 wins on the bounce with a come-from-behind victory at Bristol Flyers. The hosts led by as many as 15 points as the Sharks looked a little ring rusty in their first twenty minutes since the international break. However, a 10-25 third quarter reversed their fortunes on the way to a 67-74 success. Rickey McGill, Donovan Clay and MVP Prentiss Nixon combined for 58 of the Sharks tally as they kept up the pressure on league leaders London Lions and collected a vital win ahead of next Sunday's SLB Cup Final.

Starting Fives

Flyers: Johnson, Sherfield, Louis, Robinson, Lewis.

Sharks: McGill, Nixon, Clay, Ratinho, Anderson.

Key Moments

Bristol, having seen action the previous evening, began the game with greater intensity. Every shot made in the opening 4 minutes was from beyond the arc as Kendall Lewis took the Flyers into a 12-6 lead. Rickey McGill broke the trend for the Sharks but another three from Alain Louis showed Bristol’s intent. Three from the line by Prentiss Nixon closed the gap to 15-13 but a nine point run to the end of the quarter, including an and-one from Keddy Johnson, saw the hosts up by 24-16.

Bristol’s hot three point game continued into the second period as Demond Robinson and Jared Sherfield found success with the Flyers now ahead by 35-20. A quick Nixon trey in transition just about saw the Sharks cling on and the hosts display unravelled somewhat on technical fouls for Keddy Johnson and Bristol Coach Andreas Kapoulas; Jamell Anderson clawing the Sharks back into it at 41-30. Alain Louis ensured the Flyers had a double digit lead at 42-32 by the half time break however.

There was no panic from the Sharks and a 10-25 third quarter completely reversed their fortunes. Back to back Rickey McGill scores were matched by Donovan Clay and Nixon’s corner triple brought the deficit down to two at 46-44. McGill’s drive into the paint tied up the game and ended a 0-12 streak that was followed by a series of trades. The returning Jacob Groves was fouled in the key making the basket that gave the Sharks their first lead of the game and a Nixon mid-ranger closed a sparkling quarter with the visitors in front by 52-57.

After Demond Robinson shot the Flyers back in front at 58-57, a series of scrappy plays ensued that saw neither side able to finish their shot. It took 4.34 for the Sharks to make their first points of the stanza through a McGill floater and after Robinson had tied up the game once again, it was another Nixon corner trey that saw the Sharks take a lead they would not lose. McGill dished to Clay to jam home and the roles were reversed when McGill finished Clay’s assist to make it 65-71. Johnson’s pair from the line was in vain as another couple from Prentiss Nixon closed out an ultimately satisfying 67-74 win.

MVP

58 of the Sharks 74 points came from three players as the Sharks proved once more that no situation is impossible. Donovan Clay shot 60% from the field in another energetic display that garnered 16 points, 5 rebounds, 1 assist and 1 steal. Rickey McGill was as creative as ever in changing the momentum in the Sharks favour. He converted 7 of 10 from inside to finish with an all-action statline of 18 points, 3 rebounds, 7 assists and 3 steals. An emphatic double-double sent the MVP honours Prentiss Nixon’s way however. Four big three point shots as well as 8 of 9 makes from the free throw line took the guard to 24 points and 12 rebounds and the Sharks to a timely pre-Cup Final victory.

Next Game

B. Braun Sheffield Sharks v Surrey 89ers, Sunday 9th March 2025, Motorpoint Arena, Super League Basketball Cup Final, 3.30pm tip off

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Adam Bates