The B.Braun Sheffield Sharks suffered a tremendous loss against the Cheshire Phoenix on Friday evening after a 80-115 defeat, leaving a feeling of frustration in the air. This is only one of two pre-season games for the Sheffield based team, who face the Newcastle Eagles this Sunday at the Vertu Arena.
The Sharks 2026/2027 team includes familiar faces returning to this season’s squad with William Lee, Jordan Ratinho, Mike Ochereobia and Fahro Alihodzic coming back from last season’s roster. Another familiar face was Donovan Clay, who got a lovely welcome back after spending a season away playing in Tokyo. While newer faces Tevin Brewer, Sean Bairstow, Maceo Jack, Adrian Delph and Dan Gherezgher were welcomed with a brilliant reception from fans. Both Donovan Clay and Dan Gherezgher were inactive players this game and were replaced by Sheffield Sharks Division 1 player Declan Kom.
The opening quarter started quite slow with quite a few fouls before the pace began to pick up as Jordan Ratinho and Mike Ochereobia both sank a three pointer each. Cheshire stayed ahead as William Lee put up a 3 bringing the score to 19-27. Though an unfortunate miscommunication between the Sharks led to a 3 pointer by Cheshire’s Jaylen Searles to end the quarter 21-32.
The Sharks attempted to come back from that deficit gap before the end of the first half. Fahro Alihodzic put up three points from the corner, and a few mistakes from the Cheshire Phoenix led to Maceo Jack passing to Sean Bairstow who made a two point slam dunk. Tevin Brewer put up the final points of the quarter to finish it 43-63.
The Sharks were determined to find a way to make a come back, Sean Bairstow was a stand out in this game, as he drove and spun for two points and was then fouled on the play by Cheshire’s Sam Trunley, Bairstown went to the line and made himself a three point play (61-76). With less than a minute left in the quarter things began to heat up causing a momentary break, before the quarter ended 66-83 after play resumed.
The final quarter certainly picked up in pace but unfortunately pace isn’t what the Sharks needed. The quarter opened with a foul by the Sharks’ Maceo Jack, Rory Stewart went to the line to give Cheshire a point, for a 22 point lead. Fahro Alihodzic made a great pass to Jordan Ratinho for two points on the board. Cheshire managed to steal the ball and break away as Isaiah Gray put up the two points. However despite any effort to close the gap by the Sharks, the game ended in a tough defeat as Cheshire’s Bruno Borciuch put up the final three points of the game to close it out at 80 – 115.
There are certainly things that the team need to improve on before the season opener, but with a two week gap between the away pre-season game and the start of the season there is enough time for the Sheffield Sharks to rest, reflect and rebuild before then.
The Sheffield Sharks next play at home on Sunday the 27th September for their season opener game against the Caledonia Gladiators, with tip off at 4pm.
