Sharks have Glasgow in their sights
BBL Championship Preview – Sunday 18th March 2012
Prestige Home Milton Keynes Lions v One Health Sharks Sheffield
Sheffield Sharks playoff drive continues this weekend on the road away at Milton Keynes. Just four points separates the Sharks and a coveted fifth place in the table, currently held by Glasgow who have also played a game more. Last weekend saw a split series with a comfortable win at home to Mersey followed by defeat on the road away at Plymouth.
Mike New’s Lions are also fighting for a coveted playoff spot. They currently lie in 7th position with an 8-14 record and come into the game with the Sharks on the back of an 81-78 win over the Tigers. The mercurial Demarius Bolds posted yet another game high of 24 points in keeping with his BBL season average but the Sharks appear to have the Indian sign over him having dominated their two previous victories against MK by 85-66 and 110-87. Someone with a point to prove will be Justin Dobbins, who had his MK debut and return to the EISS ruined by that 110-87 demolition job.
The combination of Bolds, Dobbins and the impressive Daniel Northern show the talent at Coach New’s disposal. Consistency appears to have been MK’s problem and Atiba Lyons will be keen to upset the Lions rhythm as much as possible in order to gain a clean sweep of the series.
Two of the Sharks in particular were in irresistible form in the 99-82 win over Mersey last Friday. Mike Tuck’s figures of 33 points, 14 rebounds, 4 assists, 1 steal and 1 block earned him the second highest BBL performance index rating of the season behind only Ayron Hardy’s incredible triple double. ‘The Shootist’ Jimmy Langhurst indeed shot the lights out on his home court last Friday with a perfect six of six in three point field goals on his way to 32 points and a place in the BBL team of the week alongside Tuck. The form of Tuck is particularly pleasing and he has been a revelation since switching to the Centre position vacated by Dobbins in February. The Sharks limited numbers make the Canadian crucial to their gameplan and Mrs Tuck must have been mighty proud of the show put on by her boy during her visit to these shores last weekend!
Langhurst continues to thrill with his ability to make the big shot from almost anywhere on the court. Fellow Guard Ryan Patton pulls the strings on court to enable the Sharks to find Langhurst in range, although an impressive 23 points last Saturday is testamount to Patton’s own shooting ability that has been somewhat reigned-in as the Sharks continue their move to a small-ball game. Nate Reinking continues to make progress in the recovery from his knee ligament injury and would form a mouth-watering trio should he be able to make it back on court before the end of the BBL season. Obviously the Olympics remain Reinking’s goal but Sharks fans surely wouldn’t object to a few end of season run outs if Reinking feels the need to test his fitness.
The playoffs remain the focus of both sides and it will be interesting to see who gains the upper hand in what is a very important match given the tussle for positions five through eight. Tip off at the MK Basketball Arena is 5pm.
