In-form Sharks break down the Rocks

Sheffield Sharks made it five straight wins after eventually breaking down a resilient Glasgow Rocks side by 62-52. Both sides fought a war of attrition in the smaller Blue Hall at the EIS but it was the Sharks’ BJ Holmes who broke the defensive rearguard with a game-high twenty points on the night.

Starting Fives:

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

Rocks: Murray, Harrison, Davis, Robinson, Vanderbeken.

Another game, another lively start by the Sharks; a trademark Demetrius Jemison hook put the Sharks up by 11-2 before triples by Vanderbeken and Holmes saw the Rocks call for time. Donald Robinson contributed back-to-back scores as the period drew to a close, although a BJ Holmes basket gave Sheffield a deserved 18-11 after the initial ten minutes.

The Rocks looked a better prospect in the second, out-rebounding the Sharks under the home basket and generally improving the defensive side of their game. Ringgold, Robinson and Vanderbeken hit the treys that eventually put Glasgow in front but the Sharks hung on to their shirt-tails with vital buckets from Holmes and Sing and it was little surprise that the sides went in tied at 28 at half-time.

The Rocks defensive mantra followed through into the third stanza. It kept the Sharks pinned to the perimeter as their distance shooting failed to click as readily as in previous games. Two Gareth Murray triples kept the Glaswegians in front but the Sharks managed to stay in touch thanks to a Babalola basket. A Brice Fantazia score in the dying seconds put the Rocks up by 40-37 at the end of the third and it became a case of who would buckle first given the massive emphasis placed on protecting the basket.

Donald Robinson opened the scoring in the fourth but a vital BJ Holmes ‘and one’ play ensured Sheffield were never very far away. Robinson’s foul saw Holmes take a trip to the line for three attempts, gaining two and tying the match at 42 each.

Again Glasgow crept away but that man Holmes finally connected on a three as the Sharks stayed in touch at 45-48. A Jemison ‘and one’ play brought scores to within a single point and Andrew Bridge finally put the lead back in the home side’s favour with 3.17 to play. Fantazia dropped another trey but the Rocks eventually went into penalty and trips to the line for Holmes, Babalola, Bridge and Jemison saw out some tense final moments as the Sharks came out on top of a low-scoring 62-52 win.

Sharks’ Nick Lewis managed to quickly reflect on another scalp from higher up the table as the side look to their last two games of a crazy March schedule: “Our offense wasn’t flowing at all for most of the game but we stepped up our defense the whole game and that’s why we came out on top.”

As tough and attritional as the final day of the England cricket test match on Monday and tribute to Atiba Lyons’ side that they can mix it with the free-scorers as well as those who come to put up a defensive Hadrian’s Wall.

A trip to Plymouth followed by two potential playoff tasters against Newcastle form the next part of the Sharks schedule before they round off their season away at Cheshire. The Rocks face the testing visit of Surrey Heat as the post-season shake up makes itself known.

Play of the Game

Another stellar play by Sharks forward Colin Sing that may have shattered the eardrums of those listening to the play by play on Mike Shaft’s Sunset Radio. Sing spun into the key, made the basket attempt which just bounced out, before following up with a one handed jam over the top of Rocks player-coach Sterling Davis. Cue an avalanche of ‘OH BABY’’s and appreciative whoops from the spectators in the gallery. Getting to be a regular habit this Colin…

Game MVP

There must be signs of recovery for the British construction industry because both sides built defensive brick-walls around the basket on yet another chilly evening. Ever-inventive, BJ Holmes was the man most likely to find his way through, round or over those walls. Twenty points on the evening was always going to be a game-high total and when not picking his way through the myriad of Glasgow defensive bodies, there were the big shots such as the one midway through the final period that had to land eventually. Honourable mentions to Demetrius Jemison for his defensive display, Nick Lewis who made five steals and claimed nine rebounds and Donald Robinson, who looked rangey and threatening for the Rocks, but it was Holmes who outlined his importance to the Sharks and provided a rare moment of clarity in an otherwise dour affair.

Next Up

One Health Sharks Sheffield at Marjon Plymouth Raiders, Saturday 30th March, 7.30pm, Plymouth Pavilions.

Surrey Heat at Glasgow Rocks, Friday 29th March, 7.30pm, Emirates Arena.

(Image: mphotography.org.uk)