BBL Game Report: Manchester Giants 57 Sheffield Sharks 71

A perfect start for the Sheffield Sharks and a not-so-perfect start for the Manchester Giants played out before an enthusiastic crowd at Wright Robinson College.

The Sharks picked up where they left off on Friday, having beaten Cheshire Phoenix, whereas Manchester looked very reminiscent of their 2012-13 form; a third quarter rally being their sole positive on the night.

Starting Fives:

Manchester: Watts, Jones, Bernard, Marsden, Gill.

Sheffield: Gachette, Sing, Tuck, Horstmann, Simmons.

A full two minutes passed before Patrick Horstmann put Sheffield into the lead and it was all eyes on defense once again as a huge Zac Gachette block on James Jones signalled the bedrock of Sheffield’s pattern of play this season. A Jeremie Simmons triple edged the Sharks in front mid-way through the quarter and despite scores from David Aliu, Tuck, Horstmann and Nick Lewis with a big three saw Sheffield up by 21-13 after ten minutes.

Doncaster-born Rob Marsden always looked the ‘man most likely’ for the Giants but Colin Sing, following an inspiring performance on Friday, displayed lots of fight as the Sharks gnawed away relentlessly at Manchester. The Giants called for time on the back of a particularly pleasing three way move involving Simmons, Babalola and finished by Tuck and despite getting to within six, it was the Yorkshire side who succeeded in increasing the gap. A further three from Lewis and a Babalola score off the window concluded the half with Sheffield to the good by 41-25.

The Giants, no doubt enlivened by the Jeff Jones hairdryer treatment, came out all guns blazing in the third. A Marsden trey signalled their intentions and prompted Atiba Lyons to make an early call for time. A James Jones three from the right wing showed some cross-Pennine fight but again Manchester never really broke the Sheffield shackles as scores by Lewis, Horstmann and Cook saw the lead move up to fifteen points. A scrappy period of play saw a succession of fouls called and the deficit reduced to 11. 54-43 moving into the final quarter and the Sharks managing a burgeoning foul count.

Stefan Gill saw Sharks lead cut to nine early in the fourth but a superlative spell by Da’Quan Cook, who contributed a hooked two plus a neat score on the fade despite being on four fouls, wrestled the initiative back. There was also time for Coach Lyons to receive a technical for expressing his dismay at some of the officiating but he needn’t have worried as a Gachette dagger three virtually assured his side of the win. There was still time for a frustrated Stefan Gill to be fouled out of the contest, a water bottle bearing the brunt and the clock ran down tamely to a comprehensive 71-57 win for the Sharks.

Sharks Coach Atiba Lyons seemed pleased with the win in his usual modest fashion: “We played well in the first half but came out a bit flat in the third quarter,” began the Sharks playcaller.

“Manchester came out with a lot more energy but we did enough to win. It’s been a good start!” was the final assessment of the big Brooklyner.

Game MVP:

A really difficult decision as this was ultimately more of a team performance from the Sharks than their opening night win over the Phoenix. For another outstanding stat line of 15 points, 14 rebounds, 5 assists and 1 steal, the honours would once again go to the Sharks inspirational skipper Mike Tuck. However, the 12 point hauls gleaned by Lewis and Horstmann, the latter pulling down 10 boards as well, would undoubtedly run him close and a 6 point, 9 rebound, 3 assist line from the improving Da’Quan Cook was worth more than a passing mention.

Next Up:

Plymouth University Raiders at One Health Sharks Sheffield, Friday 4th October, 7.30pm, English Institute of Sport.

Manchester Giants at Cheshire Phoenix, Sunday 6th October, 5.30pm, Northgate Arena.