A Shark’s Tale: Sheffield’s 2012-13 season – Part I

Sheffield Sharks in 2012-13; a genuine rollercoaster ride. The anticipation of the journey, the highs, the lows, the screams of delight (and terror!) as well as the elation at the end of it all. Ultimately a season completed with a whole host of happy memories as to how the club has progressed, looking  to re-establish itself in the upper echelons of British basketball.

Firstly, the anticipation. The club bade farewell to several of the team from the previous season. Most notable was Nate Reinking, who capped a stellar career by being a pivotal figure in the Great Britain Men’s team at the Summer London Olympics and will live long in the memory of all Sheffield basketball fans. In came new recruits, Gage Daye, Micah Williams, Nashid Beard and the return of the prodigal, Andrew Bridge to the club where he began his career. Beard never actually made it to competitive action but Sharks Coach Atiba Lyons has won admirers for his ability to recruit, so anticipation of a young side upsetting a few along the way was the hope of many before the season began. Note the emphasis on youth; Zach Gachette and Colin Sing were joined by fellow Sheffield Hallam University student George Brownell and later supplemented by British-qualified Guard Nick Lewis. The end of season introduction of Junior Sharks Marcus Welsh, Eddy Brownell and Marko Backovic gave a further hint of the Club’s ambition to build for the future. The experience of Olu Babalola and Mike Tuck, who returned as Captain, would guide the young bucks in a season of transition.

So how did the rollercoaster set off? A smooth journey to the top followed by the thrill of the ride? Not exactly. First up were the Leicester Riders at home on September 21st. Rob Paternostro had won many plaudits for the team he had assembled in the previous season and many were tipping them among the front-runners for the title. With Beard already departed, the Sharks were hit with the blow that Micah Williams clearance hadn’t come through and so found themselves further reduced in numbers. Despite a fairly even start, the Riders completed a fairly comprehensive 71-55 win led by John Fraley (23) and returning Olympian Drew Sullivan, who was to go on to be named league MVP for the season. Promising was the debut of Gage Daye, who posted 15 points; the first in a series of reasonable early season scores. Next came a trip to a familiar name, the Manchester Giants. Micah Williams suited up for this one and contributed 22 points in his first appearance, along with Daye who poured in 30. The Sharks got away to a storming start but somehow contrived to lose the game by 99-87. A defeat by the newly-named Surrey Heat followed, 0-3 not exactly the start that was hoped for.

Cup competitions have traditionally been a forte of Sharks basketball and 2012-13 was to prove no exception. The first win of the campaign came in the BBL Cup against the then Cheshire Jets, soon to become the Phoenix in another of the year’s twists and turns. 90-59 was about as comprehensive as it could be with Daye again leading the way with 19. The Sharks would keep the good Cup form going. Glasgow Rocks were the next victims in a nailbiter that saw the Sharks come out one point to the good at 72-71. Micah Williams led all scorers with 23, despite another GB Olympian Kieron Achara doing his utmost to keep the Rocks in it with 22. And so to the semi-finals and another two-legged encounter with the Leicester Riders, who by now were setting the pace at the top of the BBL Championship. A twenty point deficit after the home first leg provided a mountain to climb and the Sharks rolled over in the second by 75-45. Little were they to know of the delight to come later in the season in the BBL Trophy.

Back to Championship action. Wins over strugglers Durham Wildcats (74-58) and Mersey Tigers (94-67) were interspersed with defeats at the hands of Surrey, Worcester, London and Plymouth, leaving Coach Lyons’ men with a 2-8 record. Late November saw the announcement that Gage Daye would be leaving the team with Centre Demetrius Jemison and Point Guard BJ Holmes being added to the roster. Daye left the Sharks having registered 17.2ppg, 6.7rpg and 4 apg and won many admirers for his conduct throughout his time in Sheffield. Jemison and Holmes inevitably took a short while to settle. Championship wins came over Durham (88-73), Mersey (94-74) and Glasgow (83-74), tempered with losses to Cheshire by a single point (79-80) and Surrey (82-84). However, signs were there that the tide was beginning to turn. The rollercoaster had hit the dip but now it was going back up the other side!

December 30th saw the final game of 2012 and a morale-boosting win by 87-68 against old rivals Manchester. Mike Tuck led all scorers with 16 points but a feature of the Sharks game was now how scoring was shared throughout the team. It was no coincidence that the arrival of BJ Holmes had expanded the scoring opportunities throughout the roster. Holmes himself contributed 14 points in this game and with Tuck, Babalola, Williams and the youthful promise of Nick Lewis, things were looking rosy once again. The focus for 2013 would be a place in the playoffs and a good run in the BBL Trophy. No-one could have predicted quite how well Atiba Lyons was able to deliver on those aims!