Welcome to the new Tank! Historic first home win for the Sharks

Sunday 8th October 2023

British Basketball League Regular Season

B. Braun Sheffield Sharks 86 Newcastle Eagles 56

New Arena – check. Sellout crowd – check. Huge Sharks win – check! Life at the Canon Medical Arena couldn’t have begun any better for the B. Braun Sheffield Sharks as they romped to an 86-56 victory over Newcastle Eagles on an historic afternoon for the club. Atiba Lyons’ men ran in at least 20 points in every quarter as an outstanding team display saw them move to a 3-3 record for the season and fourth place in the standings.

Starting Fives

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

Eagles: Austin Jr, Whitfield, Johnson, Delpeche, Green.

Key Moments

Devearl Ramsey put his name in the history books with the opening basket at the venue – his and-one play kickstarting a game where the Sharks led from start to finish. Newcastle pulled back to within two at 11-9 but that was about as good as it got for the Tynesiders as a 9-2 run to the end of the quarter was inspired by Parker Stewart’s corner triple. A drive into the paint by Terrell Allen ended the first ten minutes with the score at 20-11.

An eye-catching marriage of offence and defence saw the Sharks take the second period by 25-11. Jubril Adekoya’s three from the top of the key was soon followed by another Stewart effort and by the time Jalon Pipkins had dunked home following a neat steal, Newcastle’s resistance was beginning to crumble at 34-16. The normally free-scoring Tahj Green slammed in from a quarterback pass with the scoreboard reading 40-21 but Terrell Allen ensured a sizeable Sharks lead from the line by 45-21 at the half.

That advantage got pushed out to 30 by the end of the third stanza. Kipper Nichols joined the party with a quality and-one finish to make it 48-23 and repeated the feat two minutes later at 51-28. Devearl Ramsey too was in irresistible mood. His off-balance bucket led to another and-one play and his three moments later ensured the bandwagon kept rolling on. Newcastle veteran Darius Defoe closed out the quarter but his side had a mountain to climb with the score at 66-36.

Young guard RJ Eytle-Rock showed out in a final stanza that had the sellout crowd on their feet. Three treys swished through the net from the former Barking Abbey man as the Eagles looked in danger of threatening the previous low franchise score of 50 against the Sharks. However, they did eventually surpass that landmark but not before Nate Montgomery provided Kipper Nichols the opportunity to make further three point scores as the Sharks romped home to an 86-56 success.

MVP

The end of game breakdown showed just what a team affair it had been for the Sharks. Every player played their part but skipper Bennett Koch excelled, particularly in the opening quarter, to finish with 13 points, 3 rebounds, 1 assist and 2 blocks. Devearl Ramsey made 3 very effective assists to go with 13 points and 6 rebounds in an efficient outing. The same could be said of Kipper Nichols, who top-scored with 14 points as well as pulling down 5 boards and adding an assist, a steal and a blocked shot. The MVP went the way of RJ Eytle-Rock however. He shot 80% from the field including a perfect three of three from beyond the arc to cap a memorable afternoon with 13 points, a rebound and 2 assists.

Next game

B. Braun Sheffield Sharks v Caledonia Gladiators, Sunday October 15th 2023, Canon Medical Arena, 3.00pm Tip Off.

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Adam Bates