Advantage to Sheffield Sharks after the first leg of the playoffs: 94-70 - against London Lions

A strong second-half performance from Sheffield Sharks gave them a 24 point cushion over London Lions going into Sunday's second leg playoff.  Sharks put in a good home performance despite missing Colin Sing and Patrick Horstmann who are still out injured, leaving only 10 on the bench.

After a scrappy start that saw London often lead be a few points, Sharks came back to square it 33-33 midway through the second quarter.  Some good point runs allowed Sharks to break away and ease to 55-41 early in the third quarter.

Mid-way through the second quarter the game was all squared at 33-33. However a 7-0 run to end the half and another 8-0 run to start the third quarter gave Sheffield a 55-41 lead which they built on to run out 94-70 winners on a night when other fancied teams struggled.

Jerrold Brooks was MVP with 31 points, 6 assists, 3 rebounds and 1 steal. Mike Tuck and TJ Robinson also scored 19 points each.

 TJ Robinson at the tip

 

 Brandon Hogg breaks through.

 John Barber keeps the ball

 Sam Toluwase claims two points

 TJ Robinson for two

 John Barber for two

 TJ Robinson

 TJ Robinson goes for a floater

 Jerrold Brooks pulls up the Lions defence

 Brandon Hogg goes for two

 Jerrold Brooks runs through the Lions defence

  Jerrold Brooks holds off the Lions defence

 George Brownell on the ball

Mike Tuck takes a free throw.

Jerrold Brooks ghosts past former Shark Nick Lewis.

Kyle Odister brings the ball out from defence.

Jerrold Brooks get blocked out.

Jerrold Brooks takes the free-throw.

TJ Robinson jumps for the basket.

Brandon Hogg gets blocked out.

Jerrold Brooks found space easier to find as the game went on and racked up his points tally..

Kyle Odister takes a free-throw.

John Barber breaks through the Lions defence.

MVP Jerrold Brooks

Sheffield Sharks back at home and back to winning ways against London Lions

After many weeks on the road, Sheffield Sharks were back at the EIS last night to complete a sometimes scrappy 73-63 win over the London Lions. The win sees the Sharks close the gap on third-placed Worcester Wolves to four points with two games in hand.

TJ Robinson wins the tip

 TJ Robinson makes an early basket

 Kyle Odister made several telling runs

Captain Mike Tuck was again solid in defence and contributed several points as well

 John Barber stood up big to London and gladly took his points

 Patrick Horstmann going for the basket

 Coaches Atiba Lyons and Ariel Parrucci call the shots

 Colin Sing starts the defence high in the Lions territory

 Jerrold Brooks runs away for two - getting 19 points in total

Not just a sight in football and rugby....

 MVP Brandon Hogg - 21 points, 2 assists, 5 rebounds - presented by Karen Child

Sheffield Sharks end the year on a high

Sheffield Shaerks basketball team over-turned a 35-43 half-time deficit to beat London Lions 69-66 in a thrilling end to 2015.

Atiba Lyons' men ran out worthy winners from a physical context where they stood up to the pressure and held their nerve in the last quarter to win by three, cheered on the great atmosphere from the #sharknation.

 Marko Backovic stretches in the warm up

 TJ Robinson ready for the tip

  TJ Robinson with an early lay up

 

 Strictly Come Basketball?  Mike Tuck blocks

 Up for the contest - Colin Sing goes for the tip

 MVP John Barber jumps through the Lions defence

 TJ Robinson jumps high to shoot

 Lions had a few questions for the referees last night

 

Mike Cook shoots....

 ...and celebrates!

 

George Brownell in defence

 

Mike Cook shoots

 Mike Tuck in the 'triple-threat' position

Action under the Lion's basket

 Colin Sing makes it 69-66