Sharks edge Wolves by narrowest of margins
BBL Championship – Friday 27th January 2012
One Health Sharks Sheffield 74 Worcester Wolves 73
Sheffield Sharks upset the title challenge of second-placed Worcester Wolves with a thrilling last gasp 74-73 win at the EISS.
The Sharks welcomed back Jimmy Langhurst to the starting five after an absence of several weeks and were hoping for more court-time for influential forward Justin Dobbins, slowly making his way back after injury. The return of Langhurst was tempered by the absence through injury of veteran GB guard Nate Reinking, whose BBL season looks in doubt as he bids to regain fitness for the London Olympics. The influence of Langhurst was apparent immediately as the Sharks took a commanding 25-13 first quarter lead. The absence of Reinking also opened up a slot for upcoming guard Zac Gachette, who led the early scoring for the Sheffield side with six points. It was a disrupted start for the high-flying Wolves. Free-scoring forward Richie Gordon picked up two early fouls and seemed to let this affect his performance for the whole forty minutes.
The second period saw an upturn in Worcester’s game with the introduction of Arnas Kazlauskas. The big Lithuanian had the hot hand with the closing nine points of the half as Worcester reduced the deficit to 42-37. Also hugely influential was Ohio-schooled forward Tommy Freeman, who put up a very tidy inside-outside game to leave the fixture very much in the balance for the second half.
The two sides traded baskets throughout the third quarter. Olu Babalola stamped his presence on the game with some trademark drives to the hoop, allied with Gachette, who grew visibly in confidence and put up his best shooting display of the season. The fouls mounted for both sides; a good display by Mike Tuck was tempered by three quick calls, Kazlauskas and Gordon both moved perilously close to ejection for Worcester. 58-52 at the end of the third and it remained anybodies ball game.
The Wolves demonstrated that they are not in second place for nothing. The impressive Freeman (game high 26 points personal on the night) continued to erode the Sheffield lead and it was fitting that he gave Worcester the lead for the first time that night at 72-73 with just fifteen seconds to play. Cometh the hour, cometh the man and it was fated that Langhurst should deliver the pressure shot that restored the Sharks lead with 7.5 seconds to play. The game ended in controversy; Kazlauskas claiming he had been fouled as his two point attempt failed to reach its target. Coach James remonstrated with the officials and Gordon summed-up a poor night for himself personally by obliterating the Worcester bench but it was Sheffield who could look back on a job well done as a drive to a playoff berth was maintained.
A north-east weekend awaits the two clubs next week. The Newcastle Eagles visit the EISS for the first leg of the BBL Trophy semi final on Friday night against the Sharks and continue their journey south for an exciting Championship match-up with the Wolves on Saturday. Action and drama as tense as this one must make these the hottest seats in the BBL!
