Sharks standing on the shoulders of Giants

by UK American Sports Fans

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A vital head-to-head secured and more vital points towards a play-off position were Sheffield Sharks reward following this accomplished 95-87 win over a revitalised Manchester Giants side.

Starting Fives:

Sharks: Tuck, Holmes, Williams, Babalola, Jemison.
Giants: Bailey, Aliu, George, Watts, Jones J.

Manchester led the opening assault, so much so that Atiba Lyons called for time with only 3.24 gone in the quarter and the score at 4-11. Adjustments made, the Sharks finally asserted themselves on the game; Babalola and Tuck making the routine baskets to narrow the deficit. A Stef Gill maximum and a score from Callum Jones gave the Giants a six point advantage once again but a BJ Holmes two followed by an outstanding steal and score from exciting guard prospect Nick Lewis saw the period close with little to choose between the two at 21-23.

Lewis clearly has the talent for the big play as his opening trey of the quarter shot the Sharks into the lead for the first time. Known Manchester gunners James Jones and David Watts replied with maximums of their own to swing the lead back to the Lancastrians but inspired by skipper Mike Tuck (14 points in the half), Sheffield set about regaining the lead. Half concluding dunks from Demetrius Jemison and Zach Gachette saw the Sharks take a 43-36 lead into the locker room. An entertaining first half for the Sky TV cameras and much anticipation for the second for a full EIS crowd.

The third period opened in a much similar vein. A Jemison throw down commenced the scoring but Manchester proceeded to hang on to the Sheffield shirt-tails as James Jones unleashed another trademark left hander. Sheffield’s mid-term revival has been based on a team ethic and so it continued as Babalola, Holmes and Bridge kept the score ticking. Another Lewis triple finally pushed the lead out to ten points but again a James Jones reply kept the Giants in touch. Also worrying for the Sharks was a leg injury to influential big man Olu Babalola, who failed to return to the court for the rest of the game. 69-57 at the end of the third and it appeared to be advantage Sheffield.

The Giants are known for their prowess from downtown and it was the turn of Gill, followed up by that man Jones again that saw the deficit reduced back to seven. A crucial timeout from Coach Lyons played to perfection as the home side again eased away from the plucky Mancunians. Old heads to the fore, BJ Holmes and Andrew Bridge found the net from distance and with the Giants reaching penalty, the match petered to a conclusion with the final score at 95-87.

Play of the Game

The Sharks could have been down by as many as six at the end of the first. Credit BJ Holmes for reducing that by two but even further credit Nick Lewis for an outstanding steal and buzzer beater that possibly saw the psychological advantage swing Sheffield’s way for the first time that night. Lewis is capable of the game-changing play and the Sharks are rightly proud of his prestidigious talent.

Game MVP

Mike Tuck

Another mountainous stat-line (22 points, 13 rebounds, 2 blocks, 1 steal, 1 assist). Somewhat becalmed against Leicester the previous week, you can be guaranteed the well-built Canadian (or should that be English?) forward will make the opposition pay for a forty minutes where he hasn’t achieved at least a double-double. All good teams need a leader. Well Tuck is a leader and the Sharks are playing as a team in the truest sense of the word at the moment.

Next Up:

Sheffield Sharks at Cheshire Phoenix, Sunday 24th February 2013, Northgate Arena, 5.30pm.
Manchester Giants at Leicester Riders, Saturday 16th February 2013, John Sandford Centre, 7.30pm.