Under Par Sharks defeated in Newcastle

Friday 28th March 2025

Super League Basketball Championship

Newcastle Eagles 80 B. Braun Sheffield Sharks 67

It was defeat for the B. Braun Sheffield Sharks on Friday night in the North East as home side Newcastle Eagles claimed an 80-67 victory. The Sharks were a little below par with a 23-14 final quarter proving crucial to Newcastle’s success. The returning Seneca Knight contributed 20 points to see the Eagles, who have made the ENBL Final Fours, to the win. Prentiss Nixon’s 19 point, 7 rebound outing wasn’t quite enough to get the Sharks over the line on this occasion but Atiba Lyons’ side get a chance of revenge at the Canon Medical Arena on Sunday afternoon.

Starting Fives

Eagles: Ward-Hibbert, Okauru, Knight, Defoe, Allen-Eikens.

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

Key Moments

It was a very evenly-matched contest for three quarters but a consistent display by Newcastle secured them an 11th win of the league campaign. Veteran Darius Defoe shot the Eagles into a 6-2 lead from the line early in the encounter and it took hook shots from Mike Ochereobia and Jordan Ratinho to keep the Sharks in touch at 8-7. A 9-0 run worked in Newcastle’s favour – Seneca Knight in particular catching the eye with a big three. Replies from Jacob Groves and James Reese V from the corner ended the first quarter at 19-13.

Newcastle went big at the start of the second quarter. Christian James and Josh Ward-Hibbert from deep sent the Sharks into a timeout at 29-17, which saw the Sharks rally through an Ochereobia dunk and a Ratinho bucket at 33-23. Prentiss Nixon’s casual trey and Rickey McGill’s and-one play closed the deficit to two at 35-33 but baskets from Defoe and Ward-Hibbert saw the Geordies up by 6 at half time.

The Sharks shaded the third period. Knight continued a perfect night from beyond the arc with a pair of threes that extended the lead to ten at 51-41 and Cole Long followed suit late in the stanza to make it 57-48. Prentiss Nixon had the final say going into the last ten minutes. His drive into the paint was followed by a dagger three, leaving the game evenly-poised at 57-53.

There was still little to choose between the two early in the final quarter. It became a one point affair on a pair of Rickey McGill free throws at 60-59 before Newcastle finally saw a bit of light on a three from De’sean Allen-Eikens. Back to back Donovan Clay baskets saw that the Sharks never fully went away but another tough triple from Knight took the gap to seven at 70-63. The Eagles’ talisman added a further four points and a Mike Okauru drive all but confirmed the win. Both sides entered the bonus inside the final minute but a pair of Cole Long free throws sealed a Newcastle victory at 80-67.

MVP

The Sharks looked a little rusty from their enforced layoff. They claimed the paint by 36-28 but a three point percentage of 22 was somewhat behind their usual standards. James Reese V and Jacob Groves both contributed 7 points each and after coming back from early foul trouble, Donovan Clay went on to record 17 points and 5 rebounds, including 6 of 9 from the line. The Sharks gameday MVP was Prentiss Nixon however. His 19 point, 7 rebound, 3 assist, 1 steal display saw him to an index of 16 on 6 of 11 shooting inside. It wasn’t enough on this occasion however and the Sharks must go again against the same opponents on Sunday afternoon.

Next Game

B. Braun Sheffield Sharks v Newcastle Eagles, Sunday 30th March 2025, Canon Medical Arena, Super League Basketball Championship, 4.00pm tip off

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Adam Bates