Sunday 18th January 2026
Super League Basketball Championship
B. Braun Sheffield Sharks 83 London Lions 92
It was a valiant effort by the B. Braun Sheffield Sharks but they couldn’t quite match the might of league leaders London Lions, who claimed a nine point victory at the Canon Medical Arena. Superlative three point shooting put the Sharks ahead by seven at the half time interval but an inevitable third quarter fightback by the Lions saw them into a 61-70 lead. The Sharks did draw to within three points down the stretch but trips to the line saw London to the 83-92 win. Mervin James led all scorers with 23 but it was Prentiss Nixon who looked most likely to lead his team in the battle, claiming the MVP award for a 20 point afternoon. The Sharks now take a break from league action, focusing on next Sunday’s SLB Cup quarter-final against fierce rivals Cheshire Phoenix.
Starting Fives
Sharks: Williams, Chatman, James, Ratinho, DeLoach.
Lions: Adamu, Hawkins, Rai, Williams, Reynolds.
Key Moments
London opened up a 3-7 lead on a three from their impressive skipper Deane Williams. Dirk Williams went coast to coast for the Sharks to reverse his side’s fortunes at 8-7. Three point shooting was a focus for the first half and after Jordan Ratinho’s corner triple, Prentiss Nixon teased and tormented before landing one of his own at 14-13. A trey from near the half-court logo drew admiration for Rodney Chatman III and when William Lee completed the fake and corner three, it was the Sharks on the up as the first quarter came to an end at 22-17.
Five more triples poured through the net in the second period. Mervin James kickstarted the rout and a pair from Dirk Williams extended the Sharks lead to ten at 35-25. That became thirteen on another William Lee shot from distance but it was London who ended the half ominously. Shavar Reynolds Jr drove to the hoop for a successful and-one play and with Chaundee Brown Jr’s slam in the final seconds, the Sharks lead had been cut to seven at 47-40.
A 14-30 third quarter showed why London are top of the Championship standings. Their 6-0 start was only tempered by a Prentiss Nixon big dagger three as the Sharks persisted with their distance shooting strategy. The Lions, who were only shooting at 25% from three at the interval, stepped things up as Deane Williams, Ciaran Sandy and Matthew Goodwin all found success from beyond the arc. When Aaryn Rai joined the party, London’s lead extended out to twelve at 56-68 but a Mervin James bucket on Dirk Williams lob-pass closed the gap at 61-70 by the quarter end.
Despite an obvious increase in the London tempo, the Sharks never fully went away. Another Nixon dagger made it 71-77 and by the time he had drained two more from the free throw line, the South Yorkshire side were within three at 81-84. Sadly, they couldn’t sustain their momentum. Deane Williams hit his third triple of the afternoon and the Sharks ended up having to stop the clock through fouls. GB’s Tarik Phillip concluded the game from the free throw line as the men from the capital went home with an 83-92 victory on their hands.
MVP
The Sharks shot a healthy 15 of 30 from three point territory but it was on the inside where they struggled; London claiming the paint to the tune of 22-44. William Lee had a perfect shooting game to finish with 11 points, 6 rebounds and 2 assists. Just one point in front was Dirk Williams, who ended with 12 points, 4 rebounds and a very healthy 8 assists. Leading all scorers was Mervin James. His 23 point, 6 rebound afternoon continued his healthy scoring spree but it was Prentiss Nixon, who claimed the MVP award being the man most likely to see the Sharks home. His 20 point haul included 4 makes from deep as well as 5 rebounds and 5 assists but unfortunately wasn’t enough to trouble the leaders on this occasion.
Next Game
B. Braun Sheffield Sharks v Cheshire Phoenix, Sunday 25th January 2026, Canon Medical Arena, 4.00pm Tip Off.
Image
Josh Rackham
