BBL: Raiders of the Lost Shark – Sharks 71 Raiders 99

by UK American Sports Fans

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UCP Marjon Plymouth Raiders piled on the woe for the One Health Sharks Sheffield with this comprehensive 99-71 win on the road at the English Institute of Sport in the Steel City.

Starting fives:

Sharks: Daye, Tuck, Williams, Bridge, Babalola
Raiders: Schneck, Ojo, Barnett, O’Reilly, Bell

The highly-fancied Plymouth side were in danger of sliding out of the title race pre-game but rallied with a confidence-boosting win ahead of Sunday’s BBL Cup semi-final against the Newcastle Eagles and added to the worries of Sheffield’s coach, Atiba Lyons, as his side tumbled to a 2-7 record.

A free-scoring first half greeted the EIS faithful, boosted by fifty plus fans who had made the long journey from Devon. Olu Babalola registered the first points for the Sharks but thirteen scores from Raiders forward Javarris Barnett were the highlight of the period. Gage Daye ensured his side were kept in the contest and a score of 26-29 at the end of the first showed little between the two teams.

Daye took his own personal tally out to fifteen in the second quarter as both sides continued to trade baskets, triples from Babalola and O’Reilly proving to be particular highlights. Recent recruit Jamal Williams and Californian guard Michael Ojo provided the scores that just kept the Raiders in front as a half time score of 41-48 probably reflected the visitors command of the fixture.

Plymouth maintained their seven point cushion early in the third despite the best efforts of the belligerent Daye and the old-school savvy of former GB forward Olu Babalola. The end of the stanza saw the Raiders stretch their lead out to twelve points. It was hard to pick a stand-out man from the southern side as consistent scores from Ojo, O’Reilly and Jamal Williams piled the pressure on to the struggling Sharks.

That lead extended out to eighteen early in the fourth as Ojo and BBL stalwarts Drew Lasker and Colin O’Reilly produced points to which Sheffield had no answer. Former league MVP Jeremy Bell succumbed to a prolonged spell on the bench having hit foul trouble but it was of little consequence to the short rotation of the Devonians as former Cheshire Jet Matthew Schneck came to the party. An Ojo trey with 2.53 to play signalled the final nail in the coffin as Sharks allowed game time to bencher George Brownell. Zach Gachette nailed a triple with 1.13 left but the Raiders were already 24 points to the good and managed to extend that advantage to twenty eight as the game closed at 71-99.

A frankly lacklustre night for Sheffield as only Gage Daye could emerge with any credit for a game high 27 points with 9 boards. Conversely, Plymouth shared the spoils between their eight men; Ojo (23), Bell (18) and O’Reilly (16) being highest scorers amongst six who made it to double figures.

Plymouth coach Gavin Love was pleased with his side’s showing ahead of Sunday’s BBL Cup clash at the Pavilions against Newcastle: “Both teams made a slow start and scoring was relatively comfortable. In the end we played harder and our defence made the difference. We made some easy buckets and stepped it up late in the third quarter.”

Coach Love went on to say: “I was pleased with our intensity and passion. The scoreline flatters us a bit but it was a good team effort. The Sharks are a good team; Tuck caused us problems and Gage Daye is a tough player who will do well for the rest of the season.”

His final thoughts were reserved for Coach Love’s newest recruit: “Jamal Williams did a great defensive job on Olu Babalola and he was my MVP tonight.”

Play of the Game:

The old-school badass block on Matt Schneck unleashed by Olu Babalola with eleven seconds left to play in the third. The burly Londoner brought the bench to its feet by proceeding to batter the ball against Schneck and gain possession for the under-fire Sharks. A rare moment of defensive joy in an unstinting night of offense.

Game MVP:

Michael Ojo (Plymouth)

Next Up:

One Health Sharks Sheffield at Worcester Wolves, Saturday 24th November 2012, 7pm, Worcester University

Newcastle Eagles at UCP Marjon Plymouth Raiders, Sunday 25th November 2012, 4pm, Plymouth Pavilions