Nightmare at Knowsley continues as Mersey go 0-19

In retrospect, it is quite easy to say that Mersey played well for thirty minutes of the game, but a resounding 21-point lead at the end of the first quarter for Sheffield Sharks did all the damage that was needed in the 64-99 defeat on Friday night.

This is not your stereotypical match report either. It’s hard for the players no doubt to create an excitement on court at the moment, but it is also becoming harder for writers to give a full account on a game, but more so a team that gets beat week-on-week by a regularly large margin.

After losing to Worthing Thunder last Sunday in the BBL Trophy, for some a shock, for others not so, there was belief in the Tigers’ camp that that result could be rectified with hope for a first season win. However, the start made by Sheffield and the errors made by the home side left plenty both on court and on the bleachers frustrated with the current situation.

A run of nine followed by a run of 12 so early on devastated any real chance of Mersey coming out with a victory due to the sheer gulf in ability between the two sides.

Despite a determined effort to try and peg back the score throughout the remaining quarters, two huge runs by Sharks made the job in hand much more simpler than they probably felt it to be coming into the game.

Admittedly, Tony Walsh’s side did find their gears, but at this current time those gears are of a Lada Riva, not of a more well oiled, higher performance car. Yes, it runs, but it’s not going anywhere fast.

I’m not suggesting for one second that like the fate of a Lada at the hands of Jeremy Clarkson that the Mersey Tigers should be destroyed, no, but that they need improvements and fast. Extremely fast.

The difference in speed, intensity, quite frankly, most aspects of athleticism needed for a game of basketball were poles apart, and this isn’t just a case against Sharks, it is everyone else in the league, but there were prime examples of this last night.

Sheffield’s rotation was constant and effective; every single player looked a threat on court. George Brownell looked extremely confident and unfazed as he doubled his points tally for the season in just 16 minutes.

Height being slightly more on Mersey’s side still did not have the desired effect, although Phil Wait was joint top scorer and  top rebounder for Tigers,  I’m sure he will look at the stats post game and wish his rebound column was into double digits, and so will Walsh.

Sharks seemed to take their foot off the gas somewhat in the remainder of the game, but were still able to win each quarter, and if the league was primarily down to scoring points, they could easily have opened the taps and thundered in basket after basket; their first half shooting in the field was 73%. Seventy-three percent.

I really want to see Mersey win, whether or not that will look good enough in the eyes of the BBL is another thing, but my goodness they have left themselves with work to do in this second half of the season.

They face Newcastle Eagles next, the first of three match-ups they have against the reigning clean sweep champions, and my feeling is that they could play their bench for a whole forty minutes and most likely claim a comfortable 10-12 points win. That isn’t being disrespectful of Mersey, it’s being realistic. Newcastle have had years in the making to develop their programme, both on and off court. Yes, Newcastle have had time to develop that, but they never lost every single game, and had a product to showcase in the local area that garnered support and backing.

There is a huge amount of work going on in the background at Mersey, but in a city where basketball seems to have been tainted, promises broken in previous incarnations, it’s a bleak picture. There are still dedicated fans that go every week and even to some away fixtures. The Greenbank Ultras also remain in force on social media.

There’s still a passion, but when you have the problem of getting Liverpudlians to go watch an American sport a good few miles outside of one of the most diverse city centres at 7:30pm on a Friday night, in a city with two monumental football clubs, and that team lose on average by 30 points per game; one struggles to see any hope unless a run of wins can be found, and again, with the run of games to be had, that seems highly unlikely.

In last night’s game, like many others, there happens to be a turning point, or shall we say a cornerstone, to each and every defeat.

Of late at home:

Sharks (67-94, up by almost twenty, referee calls and the result leads to huge swing)

Surrey (54-74, lack of intensity in the second quarter, probably down to experience and putting everything into the first quarter to keep it tight)

Cheshire (65-92, the new dawn of a Phoenix era, not even Eagles could have beaten Cheshire that night with the momentum)

Plymouth (65-103, could not contend with the shooting from outside, the 3pt% was incredible from Plymouth but nothing was done to combat that)

Giants (65-96, ahead again, convincingly, but a lacklustre start to Q3 and perhaps not calling the time out until after Giants went overtook was the biggest mistake).

A mention for the Worthing game too, where the addition of Kadiri Richard no doubt sent chills up the spine, their first league win the night before giving them confidence, but then also (from what I have been told) refereeing decisions on the night.

That all being said, some players, such as Chris Bigley, have said there is no more need for excuses, and there is a whole bunch of effort being left out on court, Ryan Gallagher also proving his worth with his minutes last night, 11 points, five rebounds and a cheeky assist to go with it. However, it is harnessing that and making it into a polished product.

Full quotes to come later, but one upside is that Tony Walsh is looking to make changes if necessary. I’m not entirely sure if that would work, as there have already been additions, but a more experienced BBL head is needed in that squad, as Gallagher is, in effect, the one player with the most BBL experience prior to this season, but in reality hasn’t had enough court time, just time within the Cheshire Jets organisation.