Micah and Sharks’ second half sends Rocks around the Christmas tree

Plenty of Christmas cheer at the EIS for the Sheffield Sharks fans as a Micah Williams-inspired second half comeback saw the home team to a nine point success, 83-74, over the visiting Glasgow Rocks.

Both sides had plenty to prove after significant defeats in their previous games and both began with plenty of intent and purpose.

Starting fives:

Sharks: Tuck, Holmes, Jemison, Williams, Babalola

Rocks: McNally, Murray, Harrison, Davis, Fantazia

Tuck opened the scoring for the Sharks but it was eight points from Gareth Murray, including two triples that fired the Rocks into a 12-16 lead. A further trey from Donald Robinson almost at the quarter end gave Glasgow a slight advantage of seven points with the score at 18-25. The Sharks managed to cut that lead by one point by the end of the half as the two teams traded baskets for the most part of the ten minutes. An outstanding block by Andrew Bridge on Donald Robinson was just a mere hint of what was to come as was an introductory triple from Sharks guard Nick Lewis, who was full of youthful energy and invention. The half closed on a BJ Holmes buzzer-beating maximum, thrown up on a prayer from beyond the arc whilst off-balance as the sides went into the locker rooms with the score at 36-42.

Demetrius Jemison hit four fouls with just 11 seconds gone of the second half and was forced to sit as Sheffield looked to claw their way back into the game. Three Micah Williams scores from distance brought the Sharks to within three and a further three from Lewis tied the game with 2:15 to play in the quarter. The fightback was based on a vastly improved defensive performance, key to which were Colin Sing and Olu Babalola who nullified the threat of Ringgold, Davis, Murray et al. The teams traded baskets for the remainder of the period and it was all to play for at 58 each going into the final stanza.

Such was the intensity of the Sheffield defensive display that they forced a shot clock violation on the Rocks within a minute of the quarter starting and Coach Davis called a vitriolic time-out with 7.06 to play on the back of a Babalola drive to the net with the score at 64-58. Two further blocks by Andrew Bridge continued to signal the intent as only Murray appeared to have the necessary fight for the Glasgow cause. He and Wedemire hit foul trouble, with the latter eventually exiting the contest with 1:48 to play. Both sides made trips to the line in the final two minutes with varying degrees of success.

The Sharks however profited from 22 second half points in this fashion as opposed to the zero they achieved in the first half. Consistent scoring from Sharks Captain Mike Tuck (16 personal) kept the Rocks at bay and yet another outstanding block from Bridge in the dying moments summed up a wholly dominant Sharks second half display. Micah Williams gained the match night MVP award with 23 points, seven rebounds and one assist, combining his effective shooting from distance with some mesmeric drives into the paint as an enthusiastic EIS crowd were rewarded with the early Christmas gift of an 83-74 win.

When asked what Coach Atiba Lyons had said in the half-time locker room to inspire such a comeback, game MVP Micah Williams was suitably modest: “He didn’t say much really. The defence gave up too many points and so he told us that we needed to step up on defence and offence.”

Speaking about the comeback itself, Micah went on to say: “I took it upon myself to start making shots but it was a total team effort. These two games [including the Sharks’ visit to Cheshire on Sunday] are huge and a couple of wins would stack up nicely on the table before we get a little break.”

Coach Lyons was typically modest and to the point with his after-match assessment: “We were defensively lacklustre in the first half. There was no energy and we weren’t sharp. In the second half, we did a much better job and executed our game plan.”

Play of the game:

So many outstanding plays in this one, including every single one of Andrew Bridge’s defensive blocks. For a moment of brilliance, the half-time buzzer beater from BJ Holmes took the award. A steal in the backcourt, a race to the arc and an off-balance attempt thrown up on a wing and a prayer that sent psychological shockwaves through the Glasgow team, who suddenly became aware they were most definitely in a contest.

Game MVP:

Micah Williams

Next Up:

One Health Sharks Sheffield at Cheshire Phoenix, Sunday 16th December 2012, 5.30pm, Northgate Arena.

Mersey Tigers at Glasgow Rocks, Sunday 16th December 2012, 5.00pm, Emirates Arena.

(Main image courtesy of Rob and Catherine at www.mphotography.org.uk)