Trophy campaign begins with Surrey road defeat

Saturday 6th January 2024

British Basketball League Trophy

Surrey Scorchers 91 B. Braun Sheffield Sharks 71

The B. Braun Sheffield Sharks British Basketball League Trophy campaign got off to a less-than-ideal start with defeat on the road at Surrey Scorchers. A 13 game winning streak against the Guildford-based franchise came to an end as the Sharks failed to recover from a slow first quarter. A serious injury to Surrey’s Jordan Hunt just 23 seconds into the game marred the encounter and the whole of the Sharks organisation wishes him the speediest of recoveries.

Starting Fives

Scorchers: Robinson, Wang, Mohamed, Gooden, Hunt.

Sharks: Ramsey, Nixon, Ratinho, Nichols, Koch.

Key Moments

Hunt’s injury came after Abdul Mohamed hit an opening three point shot and after an understandable delay, it was the same player who made it 8-4 out of the corner. The Sharks finally made an impact on a one-handed dunk by Kipper Nichols to level matters at 11-11 but a 13-2 run by the hosts communicated their determination. A Bennett Koch spin move ended the scoring for the quarter but Surrey had already taken a significant 30-19 advantage.

The second quarter was much closer but the Scorchers still proved tough to break down. Three point plays from former league MVP Justin Robinson and Abdul Mohamed took their lead out to 15 but an open Devearl Ramsey triple closed that to 10 at 38-28. The Sharks went into the bonus midway through the quarter and despite a Jalon Pipkins alleyoop, it was Surrey who took a 53-39 lead into the break – Prentiss Nixon and Rodney Glasgow Jr precariously sat on 3 fouls apiece.

The Scorchers’ Saiquan Jamison poured in 8 points as the third quarter proved equally tough. The normally free-scoring Nixon was restricted to a series of trips to the line and even when Jordan Ratinho made a successful three pointer, Surrey’s Quin Cooper replied in kind. The 70-54 scoreline by the period end saw the Sharks still in touch but with time not in their favour.

Nixon’s first field goal, which came from beyond the arc, reduced the deficit to 13 and when Ratinho made his second of the contest, hopes were raised with the score at 77-66. South Sudan international Padiet Wang began Surrey’s next run from distance and another Cooper trey all but ended the game at 88-67. A Devearl Ramsey bucket on the buzzer reduced the basket difference but in all, the 91-71 scoreline was solidly in the Scorchers favour.

MVP

The Sharks were once again without the services of the injured RJ Eytle-Rock and Jubril Adekoya, placing added responsibility on the rest of the roster. Jalon Pipkins made 10 points on his return from injury and there was an 11 point, 2 rebound, 4 assist display from Prentiss Nixon, who was a perfect 8 out of 8 from the line. The energetic Devearl Ramsey joint top-scored with 17 as well as pulling down 5 boards and making 3 assists but it was co-captain Bennett Koch, who used all his smarts underneath the hoop. His 17 point, 10 rebound double-double came on 6 of 9 shooting to claim the MVP award, albeit in losing circumstances on this occasion.

Next game

B. Braun Sheffield Sharks v Caledonia Gladiators, Thursday January 11th 2024, Canon Medical Arena, 7.45pm Tip Off.

Image

Adam Bates