Big leap forward for Sharks with huge win over Plymouth

Thursday 29th February 2024

British Basketball League Regular Season

B. Braun Sheffield Sharks 97 Plymouth City Patriots 60

The B. Braun Sheffield Sharks took a huge leap forward as they defeated the Plymouth City Patriots by 37 points on their return after the international break. The club’s biggest win of the season and their highest points tally of the campaign saw every Shark on the scoresheet. Malek Green and Bennett Koch led the way with near double-double displays but possibly more important was the moral-boosting 97-60 victory – their greatest since 6th December 2020 – ahead of a trip to second-placed Cheshire Phoenix on Sunday.

Starting Fives

Sharks: Ramsey, Eytle-Rock, Green, Ratinho, Koch.

Patriots: Wiley, Levi, Dusha, Hart, Atwood.

Key Moments

Both sides looked a little rusty in the opening stages as a triple from Plymouth’s Joe Hart kept the game close at 11-9. The Sharks took command to the end of the quarter. Jalon Pipkins corner trey kickstarted some impressive offence as a Prentiss Nixon bullet pass to Malek Green opened up a gap at 20-14. Green followed up with three from the top of the key and it was only a pair of Cameron Copeland free throws that reduced the deficit to 23-16.

A Copeland three saw Plymouth take the next run. He added two further points and four from his colleague TJ Atwood drew the Patriots level at 29-29. Their revival ended there as the Sharks went on a 16-4 streak to the end of the half. Trademark defence was married ideally with solid finishing as Devearl Ramsey’s three on a kickout took the score to 34-31. Malek Green claimed his own offensive rebound to finish at 38-33 and his tenacious frontcourt partner Bennett Koch eurostepped to the hoop to make it 42-33. The run was capped by a Prentiss Nixon triple on the buzzer; the Sharks ecstatic with their 12 point half time lead.

The Sharks bettered their own efforts at the start of the third period by going on an 18-4 run this time around. Green and recent GB squad member RJ Eytle-Rock made big shots as Ramsey crossed his way to the hoop with the score at 63-37. Having restricted Plymouth to just 8 points in a shade over eleven minutes play, the floodgates opened as threes from Rodney Glasgow and Malek Green closed a 30-13 quarter with the score at 75-46.

Kipper Nichols took over in the fourth stanza. His three pointer was preceded a rearranged two, which he followed by assisting to Marcus Delpeche to make it 85-48. The Sharks took the opportunity to share the minutes at this point. Nate Montgomery dished to Nichols at 87-52 and despite TJ Atwood making his 18th point of the evening for the Patriots, corner treys from Montgomery and Pipkins wrapped up a thoroughly deserved and comprehensive 97-60 win for the South Yorkshire side.

MVP

Every Shark on the eleven man roster made the scoresheet as a solid team performance saw the team back to winning ways. Devearl Ramsey (11) and newly-announced All Star Jalon Pipkins (13) poured in double figure scores and a late cameo from Kipper Nichols saw him make 7 points, 7 rebounds and 5 assists in only 15 minutes on court. The Sharks frontcourt duo of Bennett Koch and Malek Green led the way and set the tone for the excellent victory. Koch had an efficiency rating of 25 as he just missed a double-double with 12 points and 8 rebounds as well as making 3 assists, 1 steal and 2 blocked shots on six of seven shooting. Just pipping Koch for the MVP award was Malek Green. He too flirted with a double-double at 20 points and 8 rebounds, adding 3 assists and a steal in an all-action, energetic display that saw him exceed Koch’s efficiency by one.

Next game

Cheshire Phoenix v B. Braun Sheffield Sharks, Sunday March 3rd 2024, Cheshire Oaks Arena, 6.00pm Tip Off.

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Adam Bates