Lions at Sharks 16 Dec’ 2011 (BBL press preview)

One Health Sharks Sheffield v Prestige Homes MK Lions

Friday 16 December 2011
EIS Sheffield (19:30)

Two sides looking to move up the BBL Championship table meet at the EIS on Friday evening as One Health Sharks Sheffield host Prestige Homes MK Lions.

The sides met three times in the final weeks of last season, with Sharks winning on each occasion, though their 92-91 victory at MK Basketball Centre certainly had the fans on the edge of their seats. The Sharks lead the all-time series between the clubs 51-11.

Sheffield were without a game last weekend, and player-coach Atiba Lyons was happy with the break: “It was a good week off. We trained very hard and just pushed ourselves for this tough double weekend.”

Lyons expects a tough game as his side look to put their early season dip in form behind them: “I have seen some footage on them as well as playing them in the pre-season. They’re a very explosive team and high octane. They’re also a very good transition team.

“Demarius Bolds and Daniel Northern seem to be leading the way for these guys. Bolds is scoring the ball on everyone.”

Lions’ coach Mike New rates the Sheffield team highly: “Sharks have a very solid team lead by Nate Reinking in the backcourt and Justin Dobbins in the frontcourt. Jimmy Langhurst has settled in and Olu [Babalola] and Mike Tuck are returnees who experienced and very good players.”

Victories against Durham Wildcats and Cheshire Jets last weekend saw Lions jump up to fifth spot in the BBL Championship table, and New was happy with their performances:

“After the first quarter against Wildcats, we re-focused on our defensive targets and we were great defensively. We met our targets at the end of each quarter and are starting to play better as a unit defensively. We still have work to do obviously, but we are improving and trying be better defensively every time that we take the floor.

“It was a similar situation on Sunday in Cheshire where we met most of our defensive targets and bar some unforced turnovers early on, our defence was a primary focus. We rebounded the ball really well against a Jets team that battled hard and Cole and Brown were standouts for them.”

Lions’ guard Stefan Gill was delighted with their two wins last week: “We really needed that, I think we’re up to fifth now. We’ve really picked up and I’m pleased that we’ve got going before the Christmas break. Some teams don’t pick up until the New Year, but I think our timing is perfect with the games we’ve got coming up.

“It makes practice fun, and everyone’s enjoying playing together. Howard’s numbers are improving, and we’re really coming good at the same time.”

Gill is looking forward to the trip to Sheffield: “We played them pre-season and I think we lost by about eight, but we didn’t have everyone and they had a full-strength squad – so with three straight wins and all of our players, it’s looking good for us.

“At the moment Justin Dobbins is playing consistently well for them and Nate Reinking is leading them in scoring. I will probably guard Nate and Jimmy Langhurst, but it’ll be fun. I usually end up guarding teams’ Americans for at least part of the game, and I enjoy those challenges.”