Wildcats @ Sharks: BBL Championship preview
Friday 19th October 2012
One Health Sharks Sheffield v Durham Wildcats
One Health Sharks Sheffield seek a first win of the BBL Championship season as Durham Wildcats make the journey from the North East to the EIS on Friday evening.
Mixed fortunes for the Sharks last weekend saw a comprehensive victory over Cheshire Jets in the BBL Cup followed up by defeat at Surrey Heat on Sunday.
Durham have recorded one win from their four games so far but there are signs that the newcomers from 2011-12 are beginning to find their feet at this level. That solitary win came away at fancied Worcester Wolves by 76-82 with the Wildcats also narrowly exiting the Cup by 79-76 at London Lions. Durham have also suffered defeats by Glasgow (82-92) and near-neighbours Newcastle (99-75) but there are signs that Coach Dave Elderkin is inching towards getting the best out of his lean rotation. Leading the way is Mike Baldarelli, who is averaging 17.3ppg ably backed up by Elderkin’s son, Paul who contributes 15ppg, 5rpg and 3.3 apg at this early stage.
U.S. forwards Brad Guinane and Andrew Keister have also made valuable contributions and it’s clear that you take the Wildcats lightly at your peril as Worcester found out on the opening weekend of the season.
After ten days of intense practice, the Sharks returned to the EIS in dramatic fashion with a barnstorming win over Cheshire in the Cup. A fine exhibition of team ball saw the homesters run out 90-59 winners. Gage Daye again led the scoring with 19. However, five players weighed in with double digits and rebounding was well spread throughout the side, Colin Sing having a game high of 8. Skipper Mike Tuck was the bedrock around which the win was achieved and the Sharks headed to their Sunday fixture in Surrey with renewed optimism.
For three quarters, there was barely a cigarette paper between the two sides and at 53-52 in the Heat’s favour, it was all to play for in the final ten minutes. Foul trouble on Tuck and fellow big Olu Babalola and a hot run for Heat’s Martelle McLemore saw Surrey rack up a further twenty six points and claim the win at 79-63.
The defeat leaves Sheffield 0-4, bottom of the championship and with a real need to ‘get the monkey off their back.’ The improved display on Friday brought some life into a sparse but appreciative crowd at the EIS and Coach Lyons will be looking for more of the same from his players. The honeymoon period is rapidly coming to an end and failure to pick up points against the teams around them may lead to decisive action being taken on the existing roster.
One new face appearing in the team will be 6’ 1” Canadian-born point guard Nick Lewis. The graduate of Our Savior New American school in NY has recently received his British passport and will be suiting up for the first time as well as joining the Sharks partnership programme with Sheffield Hallam University.
A must win tie for both sides; a battle-royale is guaranteed! Tip-off is at 7.30pm at the English Institute of Sport, Coleridge Road, Sheffield.
For tickets follow the link at www.facebook.com/SheffieldSharks.
For game tweets follow @billybadknees.
