Report by North Derbyshire Radio’s David Bell

The B. Braun Sheffield Sharks brought an emphatic 22 point win back to Yorkshire after a superb takedown of Lancastrian rivals Manchester Basketball. A closely poised game at half time was blown away as the Sharks took the second half by 38-57 to record a huge 84-106 success. Six Sharks recorded double figure scoring efforts, headed up by Mervin James, who posted a fourth double-double in six outings with 19 points and 11 rebounds. The Sharks move to a 9-6 record as a result and climb back to second in the SLB Championship standings.

The Sharks set off in determined mood, going out to a 2-8 lead as Rodney Chatman III kissed one off the glass. The hosts stayed in touch through Max Jones and Patrick Smith, who different ways to make three point plays at 11-12 and some quality shooting continued from both sides as Rodney Glasgow’s triple was matched by Kaiyem Cleary with the score at 18-21. A strong finish from the Sharks through William Lee’s three from the wing, followed by Mervin James’ mid-range effort saw the quarter end at 20-26.

Manchester shaded a close second period. After Nick Kern Jr put the Sharks up by 22-31, a 15-2 run by Manchester which included a fierce two-handed dunk from Cleary saw them ascend to the lead at 37-33. The Yorkshire side came again. A pair of Dirk Williams treys bookended one from Chatman as the scores were tied at 42-42. The teams couldn’t be separated until three late points from Prentiss Nixon saw the visitors into the locker room ahead by 46-49 at the interval.

The second half took some time to spark into life but when it did, it was the Sharks who seized the initiative. Rodney Chatman’s and-one play gave Atiba Lyons’ men the break they needed and they went on a 2-12 burst of their own, ended by Mervin James triple from out wide with the score at 53-66. Jordan Johnson came alive for Manchester but even he was powerless as an open three for Lee and a Jordan Ratinho bucket saw the third period end at 62-77.

The Sharks bettered their third quarter production by one on their way to an emphatic victory. Nick Kern Jr delivered 9 early points to make it 67-88 and his team-mates began to score at will – Williams and James connecting on identical threes from the wing with the score at 73-99. Jalen DeLoach saw the Sharks into three figures and there was even time for the first points of the season for Reyad West as the White Rose outfit romped to an 84-106 success.

Shooting percentages of 39 to 60 told their own story as six Sharks put up double figure scoring. 10 and 13 points for Jalen DeLoach and William Lee were also backed up with 6 and 7 rebounds respectively as a very solid supporting effort. Rodney Chatman III was the creator supreme for his 14 points and 8 assists and 17 points apiece from Dirk Williams and Nick Kern Jr, included only 6 misses from the field all evening. The MVP Mervin James came up with his fourth successive double-double. His 19 points came on 8 of 12 shooting and were supported by 11 defensive rebounds as the Sharks proved once again that they are a force to be reckoned with.

The Sharks wait until Friday for their next fixture, when they head to Guildford looking for revenge over Surrey 89ers, recent victors over the Sharks at the Canon Medical Arena.

Image: Josh Rackham