Sharks win at home against Jets
Shorn of key Guard Jimmy Langhurst (Visa issues) the Sharks suffered another blow when Centre Justin Dobbins was forced to withdraw with back spasms. Captain Adrian Anderson was forced to suit up with a heavily-strapped hand, only a few weeks into recovery for a break and an overall line up of eight including one decidedly-unfit player looked somewhat light.
The Jets also had their problems; Captain Colin O’Reilly being forced to sit out the game through injury although Matt Schneck was able to return to the starting line-up.
In a game of high intensity and effort from few players, it was the Sharks who were to dominate all the way. Sheffield opened up a ten point margin by the end of the first quarter, thanks in the most part to Nate Reinking, who posted 13 points and four out of four from distance. Reinking’s first half performance epitomised the effort from the Sharks as the 38 year old’s 23 points by half time saw the lead extended to 12 with the scores at 52-40. Jets Point Guard Adam Brown closed the half by earning himself a technical that left him in a precarious position for the remaining twenty minutes.
The second half continued in much the same vein. The lead allowed Sheffield to give game time to Sheffield Hallam students Colin Sing and Zac Gachette. Gachette responded particularly well with 13 points from the backcourt that earned Reinking a well-deserved rest. Sharks defensive trio of Lyons, Tuck and Babalola produced some sterling work to shut-out Jets danger man Bill Cole, who was limited to one superb pirouette and drive to the basket on his way to 19 points personal. The returning Schneck could feel proud of his 22 points and 13 rebounds but his efforts came to little as Sheffield maintained a 73-62 lead at the end of the third.
In all, the Sharks used just six players in a super-human effort on their way to what was in the end a comfortable victory. The performance was summed up by Olu Babalola, who went on to register a game high 27 points with some rampaging drives to the net and one sublime three pointer from considerable distance. Adam Brown for the Jets did well to last the distance, given his earlier foul trouble, for a decent 21 points but Coach Lavery will be keen to arrest the Jets slide sooner rather than later. In the opposite camp, Sharks Atiba Lyons will have been weary but mightily pleased with a 90-77 success, some poor shooting from the line being the only downside to the game.
The Sharks entertain Guildford at the EIS on Friday 13th January. Let’s hope it’s no horror show!
