It's BBL 2016-17 and the season opener for Sheffield Sharks against Leicester Riders

Just over 4 months ago, Sheffield Sharks unexpectedly(?) beat Leicester Riders in the BBL playoff final at the O2 in London.

Tomorrow a much-changed Sharks line-up faces the first game of the season against the same opponent whose coach, Rob Paternostro, will not have wasted a moment in telling his squad how important this game is.

Captain Mike Tuck scoring against Leicester Riders at the EIS, Sheffield, October 2015

In the intervening period the Sharks have said adieu to players such as Jerrold Brooks, TJ Robinson and John Barber and recruited some height - probably some of the tallest players to play together at the EIS.  It's also the last season for the Sharks at the EIS before they move into their new home on the old Don Valley site.

Sharks dug very deep in May, showing lots of team spirit.  Come along to the EIS tomorrow night to see how the new season starts off.

For more information and ticket details, go to: http://sharksbasketball.org/

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 leave it late to beat Bristol Flyers

On a night when Captain Mike Tuck reached the milestone of 3,000 BBL points, Sheffield Sharks continued their good form at home with another win.  This time over Bristol Flyers who lead by 40-38 at half-time and then extended that to 9 at one point in the fourth with just 6:32 to go, before Sharks came back with a late flourish of determined basket attack to win 78-70.

 TJ Robinson at the tip

 Patrick Horstmann makes an early two

 Coach Atiba Lyons back from illness

 Jerrold Brooks jumps for a long two

 Mike Tuck jumps to slam

 John Barber finds a way through the Bristol defence

 Kyle Odister with a three-point effort

 John Barber keeps the ball

 TJ Robinson runs away for an easy basket

 George Brownell shoots for a three

 Jerrold Brooks shoots a free-point with teh game 59-65 down in the 4th

 Jerrold Brooks runs away for some late points

 

 Brandon Hogg going in for another two

Brandon Hogg wrapping up the points at 78-70

  MVP with 26 points is Jerrold Brooks

Sheffield Sharks pull away to victory over Leeds Force

Sheffield Sharks - confirmed as Yorkshire's #1 Basketball team for another year!  A scrappy encounter with Leeds Force (3 technical and plenty of ordinary fouls) saw Sheffield Sharks and Leeds Force even at 44-44 at half time with Sharks missing the high-line defence of Colin Sing who was out injured.  Sharks pulled away at the end to run out 81-70 winners which sees them edge closer to that play-off place.

 T J Robinson makes an early dunk

 Coach Atiba Lyons pulled out late with sickness so acting head coach Ariel Parrucci stepped up to the plate

 Jerrold Brooks jumping for two

 Kyle Odister shoots a long two

 Jerrold Brooks jumping again

 Brandon Hogg runs the line

 Sam Toluwase muscles in for two

 Mike Tuck shoots some free throws

 MVP T J Robinson