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Game Review: Glasgow Rocks hold off Sheffield Sharks in Series Leveller

by | Feb 28, 2022 12:49PM | Sport

Shark's Devante Wallace (Photo: Adam Bates Photography)

On Sunday, the Sharks took on the Rocks at the Emirates Arena for the second time this BBL season. B.Braun Sheffield Sharks and The Glen Luss Glasgow Rocks have met a total of 76 times in British Basketball League matches, with the Sharks winning 75% of these games.

The Rocks set the tone of the game and opened the scoring in the first quarter with a three pointer from Jonny Bunyan.

The Sharks fought back with their first three pointer of the game from Devante Wallace.

Sheffield Shark’s Devante Wallace (Photo: Adam Bates Photography)

Despite the Sharks efforts, the Rocks gained the lead early on, ending the first quarter with a 21-16 score.

The second quarter saw the Rocks gain an early 26-19 lead.

The Sharks’ Antwain Johnson helped move the game forward and shrink the gap between the score with 12 points, leading all the Sharks’ scorers and bringing the game to 29-26.

Similar to the first quarter, the Sharks could not surpass the Rocks’ strong lead they had obtained from the start.

With just over three minutes to play in the second quarter, the Sharks’ Head Coach, Atiba Lyons called timeout as Rodney Glasgow Jr. received medical attention on court following a heavy fall.

The Rocks held on tight to their lead and by halftime the score stood at 44-37, thanks to baskets from Jaycee Hillsman and Vance Johnson.

In the second half of the game all was still to play for.

Lyons’ side had a strong start to the third quarter outscoring the Rocks 10-7 in the first five minutes.

Although there was low scoring between both teams, the Sharks looked strong throughout this quarter outscoring the Rocks 18-17. However, the Rocks still held the lead and entered the final quarter with a score of 61-55.

The final quarter at the Emirates Arena saw the Rocks last push for a win. With 5 minutes left to play, the Rocks were up 68-59.

Thanks to a three pointer from the Rocks’ forward, Hillsman and six points from the Rock’s MVP of the game, Boban Jacdonmi, Glasgow’s team took a nine-point lead.

With two minutes to play in regulations, the Rocks were leading 74-65 and slowed down the game, resulting in a win on their home turf with a score of 78-71.

Overall, the Sharks appeared to be on the back foot the entire game, not heading into a single quarter with a lead.

The Rocks scored 84% of free throws while the Sharks only managed 61%, a deciding factor in a game that could have gone either way.

The Sharks entered the final quarter with hope of turning the tide, but the Rocks managed to see the game out comfortably.

This loss for Sheffield Sharks means the regular season series between the two teams is at 1-1. The Sharks hope to regain the series lead in front of a home crowd in their next game against the Rocks in April.

Despite the loss on Sunday, the Sharks remain hopeful that they can win the championship. Rodney Glasgow Jr. said: “We can win a championship! We were right there last week against Leicester. We can play with the best of them. I just think now we just need to get our chemistry up, and come Play Off time we will be ready.”

The Sharks’ next game in the BBL Championship will take them to London to face the Lions on Sunday.