Rocks @ Sharks: BBL Championship preview
Seventh plays ninth in this Friday’s BBL Championship fixture at the English Institute of Sport. A run-of-the-mill mid-table fixture at first glance. Dig a bit deeper and there is more to this one than meets the eye.
A 72-71 defeat at the hands of the Sharks in the BBL Cup at the beginning of November sparked a five game winning streak that earned Rocks’ coach Sterling Davis the monthly award. That run has been de-railed coming into December, latterly by the Cheshire Phoenix, who ran out 90-79 winners last Sunday. Glasgow’s month-by-month deal with GB Olympian Kieron Achara has now expired and the Rocks look to be putting their faith in 6’ 7” power forward Mike Ringgold to replace Achara’s presence in the frontcourt.
Veteran Guard EJ Harrison missed the defeat in Cheshire and the Rocks will have similarly missed his contribution which amounts to 15 points per game and 3.5 assists per game so far this season. Donald Robinson has been the ‘go-to’ man for Glasgow this season, putting up 16ppg but Coach Davis has assembled a side that can all contribute and the work ethic that led to that five game winning run will be in evidence in Sheffield on Friday night.
Another typically schizophrenic week for the Sheffield Sharks with a comfortable twenty point win over the Mersey Tigers followed by a crushing thirty point dip against Leicester in the BBL Cup semi-final second leg. The Sharks needed a minor miracle to overturn a twenty point deficit from the first leg but to lose the overall tie by fifty points was somewhat baffling. Only Demetrius Jemison (18 points/13 rebounds) emerged from the Riders game with any credit; Olu Babalola being the next highest scorer with a mere 7 on the night.
Coach Atiba Lyons appeared to be equally nonplussed by the defeat judging by his reaction on Twitter following the game and will be hoping his side don’t suffer any hangover as they move into an important Championship fixture. Much better was the 94-74 win over the plucky Mersey Tigers last Friday as Team Captain Mike Tuck led the way with 21 points, 6 rebounds, 2 assists and 2 steals. Again, Jemison showed his potential with a 13 point, 11 rebound double-double as the Sharks moved into ninth place with a 4-8 record. With a place in the playoffs and the BBL Trophy looking to be the Sharks only hopes of gaining something from the season, the game against Glasgow looks increasingly important as Sheffield look to hunt down the teams immediately above themselves.
Those present at the single point victory over the Rocks in November will bear witness to what an exciting fixture it was. The final result was in doubt right down to the last few seconds and whilst it was great entertainment for the spectators, no doubt both coaches will be looking for a more comfortable margin of victory this time out.
For a pre-Christmas treat, book your tickets at www.sharksbasketball.co.uk and head on down to the EIS in Sheffield on Friday for a 7.30pm tip-off.
