Report by North Derbyshire Radio’s David Bell

Super League Basketball Championship

Braun Sheffield Sharks 76 Bristol Flyers 69

A short-handed B. Braun Sheffield Sharks dug deep for an excellent win over the in-form Bristol Flyers on Sunday afternoon. The Sharks went into the game just 8 deep following Friday’s injury to Prentiss Nixon but made some canny rotations and played quality defence to claim the 76-69 win. All the suited Sharks made the scoresheet but it was the MVP performance of Dirk Williams, who finished with 16 points and 8 rebounds, that caught the eye. The Sharks move to a 4-4 record for the season and more importantly, remain in touch with SLB’s top three of London Lions, Bristol Flyers and Cheshire Phoenix.

There was little to separate the sides in a very even first half. Rodney Glasgow Jr, pressed into starting duties in Nixon’s absence, drained a corner triple and then effected the steal that allowed Jalen DeLoach to dunk with the score at 6-5. Bristol were never far away. Cam Holden’s trey gave them an 8-12 advantage but Dirk Williams soon went coast to coast for the Sharks to level the game once more. Holden’s and-one play looked to have given the Flyers some daylight but a Rodney Chatman three on the buzzer ended a tight first quarter at 20-24.

Chatman continued where he had left off on Friday in Manchester with a corner three to make it 27-28. Dirk Williams’ three point jump shot levelled the encounter at 32-32 before Nick Kern Jr restored a long-awaited lead for the Sharks at 34-33. Bristol thought they would have the half time advantage through Jonathan Brown’s basket but Williams’ drive into the paint saw the Sharks in front by 38-37.

The Flyers came out with intent after the interval. Joseph Anderson and namesake Zach made big shots that put the South Gloucestershire side ahead by 40-45 but a quick release three from Williams and an athletic spin and finish from Chatman tied things up once more at 46-46. In a game of fine margins, a pair of Nick Kern baskets ended an 8-0 mini-run for the Sharks but Bristol fought back through three Will Yoakum baskets. Milos Dugalic’s corner trey ended a 0-9 run of their own and gave them a 54-56 third quarter lead.

The Sharks took a dramatic final stanza by 22-13 and a deserved 7 point win. Zach Anderson concluded another Flyers streak with a three at 59-64 but again the Sharks fought back with replies from Rodney Glasgow and Jordan Ratinho to go up by 67-64. An altercation between Rodney Chatman and Cam Holden saw both teams swarm the court and the non-playing Mervin James and Reyad West as well as the active Nick Kern banished for the rest of the contest. The now seven man Sharks responded admirably. Rodney Chatman hit a big three from the wing which was followed in identikit fashion by Jordan Ratinho to secure a 73-69 lead going into the final minute. The Flyers fell into the penalty and it was left to Ratinho to secure the hard-earned 76-69 victory from the free throw line.

The entire 8 man Sharks roster made the scoresheet but there were several notable performances. Key three pointers saw Jordan Ratinho end with 10 points and 4 rebounds and the Sharks were positive 11 while ever he was on court. Pressed into starting duties, Rodney Glasgow Jr responded admirably and shot at 62% on his way to a very useful 14 points, 2 rebounds, 2 assists, 2 steals and a blocked shot. Leading all scorers was Rodney Chatman III. He also shot at 62% for his 18 points and was perfect from the free throw line to continue his rich vein of form from Friday evening. The game MVP was in inspirational mood with a do-it-all statline. Dirk Williams’ 16 point, 8 rebound, 4 assist and 2 steal outing saw him on court for all but two and a half minutes of the game and was an undoubted key to the Sharks success.

The Sharks take the long journey north to East Kilbride next Friday to take on current bottom side Caledonia Gladiators in their next SLB fixture.

Image: Josh Rackham