Phoenix shot down in flames

Sheffield Sharks claimed their place in the BBL Trophy final with a comprehensive 42 point aggregate win across the two semi-final ties after a 102-74 victory at home to Cheshire Phoenix.

Cheshire were shorn of their talismanic captain Chez Marks and influential forward Jerome Gumbs and struggled throughout the fixture with a seven man rotation despite Coach Matt Lloyd suited up and ready to play.

Starting Fives:

Sharks: Williams, Holmes, Babalola, Tuck, Jemison.

Phoenix: Thomson, Bland, Haskins, Myers, Pearce.

Bland posted the opening points of the game but restricted to a six man rotation, it always looked a tall order for Cheshire to claw back a 14 point deficit. The Phoenix battled gamely during the first ten minutes with Thomson and Haskins to the fore but maximums from BJ Holmes (x2) and Micah Williams (again x2) put Sheffield in the box seat and a two from Sharks forward Demetrius Jemison sent the home side in at 23-16 at the end of the first, twenty one points to the good. Myers, Haskins, Bland and Thomson had given their all but lack of bench support proved their undoing and was to remain so all evening long.

The second period opened much in the same vein, Demetrius Jemison converting a flushed double after some inventive work by Sharks’ skipper Mike Tuck. The new-look Sharks were typified by events midway through the second quarter as rookie Point Guard Nick Lewis nailed a trey and quickly followed that by making a steal off an Olu Babalola score, coverting the lay-up and gaining the ‘and one’ for a foul with the score ebbing away at 39-23. The ebullient BJ Holmes drained two from downtown of his own and it was only a two point play from 43 year old Shawn Myers that kept the  ‘Nix somewhat in touch with score at 49-29 at the half.

Veteran forward Olu Babalola grasped hold of the tie with his play in the third quarter. He consistently found his way to the basket throughout the period with some trademark rampaging runs as the lead went out to 26 on the night and 40 overall. Alif Bland closed the third with a score preceeded by that of Chris Pearce but 70-50 at the quarter end signalled the contest was all but over. Sheffield rested key men ahead of their trip to London on Sunday but it mattered little as the party pieces came to the fore in the final stanza.

Colin Sing nailed a solid two as Sharks bencher George Brownell dropped two maximums in his short spell on court. Gabe Haskins made it a one man crusade to leave the building with some respect for his side but eighteen points from Sharks Shooting Guard Micah Williams, all gleaned from behind the arc, took the wind from beneath his sails. A Nick Lewis spin and score saw Sheffield past the three figure mark and the final 24 seconds of the game ticked down to a resounding 102-74 Sharks win on the night and by a convincing 42 overall.

There was sheer delight on the face of Sharks’ rookie point guard Nick Lewis as he reflected on a first final in his first season as an overseas pro: “That was good for our confidence. We had a rough start to the season, so that win was good for us.”

Not getting too carried away with the euphoria of a final place, Nick continued to say: “The win will put us into a good mind state going into the play-offs.”

When quizzed as to the focus of the next week or so, Lewis’ thoughts immediately turned to Sheffield’s upcoming game down in London on Sunday: “We need to take care of business on Sunday and stay on the same track. The focus needs to be on defense because London beat us last time down there.”

Thoughts once again returned to a legendary Trophy win over Cheshire, with some of the exhibition play of the fourth quarter drawing a wide grin from the Canadian-born nineteen year old. Clearly this win meant a lot to a side that has had little to cheer for a couple of seasons now.

Play of the Game:

Definitely one to watch for the future, Nick Lewis came up with a second period game changer once again. A tidy drive to the basket had already gleaned two for rampaging Sharks forward Olu Babalola. Lewis proceeded to steal the Cheshire inbound, make the two and draw the foul for the ‘and one’ as well. 34-23 became 39-23 and you could be forgiven for thinking Lewis thrives on these ‘look at me’ moments. Not true one bit. Coach Lyons mantra of solid defense is uppermost in the 19 year old’s mind and it is game-changers like these that only add to the bedrock of what the Sharks are trying to achieve. No ‘I’ in team definitely rings true in Sheffield!

Game MVP:

On the night awarded to Demetrius Jemison. Again nothing flash, just taking care of business. One assist, one block, two steals, ten rebounds and sixteen points. You’d hardly know he’s there but boy is he effective!

Next Up:

Sheffield Sharks at London Lions, Sunday 3rd March 2013, 5pm, Crystal Palace National Sports Centre.
Cheshire Phoenix at Surrey Heat, Sunday 3rd March 2013, 3pm, Surrey Sports Park.