Sharks aim to end season on a high
There’s an adage in sport, it’s not how you start, it’s how you finish.
With the prospect of a top six finish now virtually gone, the Southland Sharks basketballers have adopted this as a team mantra as they look to end the 2022 Sal’s NBL season on a high note.
With Head Coach Rob Beveridge returning from injury, the Sharks turned in their best team performance of the campaign in dispatching the second-placed Auckland Tuatara 103-91 last Friday.
‘‘It was a great win. It showed what we can do when we move the ball, be patient, make extra passes and get our players back to all playing their roles. It was an incredible effort on their home court and I think it does show that even though we’ve had a lots of ups and downs this season, when we go we are a very good team,’’ Beveridge said.
The Australian coach is still struggling physically as he recovers from his frightening accident after falling from his roof while home in Sydney in early June, but he is certainly not afraid to give his voice a work-out at trainings at ILT Stadium Southland as he gets his players ready for their final four games of the season.
‘‘There is zero pressure on us and what we’re trying to do is play hard, play together and if we do that, we can upset some teams,’’ Beveridge said.
The Sharks take on the highflying Taranaki Airs at ILT Stadium Southland this Friday night at 7.30pm and then back up next Wednesday in Dunedin against the Otago Nuggets. They then fly to Christchurch on Saturday 30th July to take on the Rams before finishing their season against the Franklin Bulls on Friday 5th August in the Shark Tank.
Coach Beveridge is very keen to see his team play spoiler while giving something back to their loyal fans in what has been a challenging year.
‘‘This is a very proud club and for us to under-achieve this year is extremely disappointing. We all know about my accident and how long that kept me away, but this community means a lot to me and the club had been fantastic. We’ve got a great group of guys and for me to come back and for them to respond the way they have, I just want us to finish out the season playing the right way,’’ he said.
He is however under no illusions about the challenge Taranaki poses this Friday night.
‘‘Obviously we are playing the Airs on Friday and they are very very good. There are a lot of good imports in the League but they have three of the best. We have got to make sure that we play disciplined basketball because if we throw the ball away and are sloppy and don’t do all those one-percenters, we are in for a long night. I’m hoping that we can emulate the way we played against Auckland and play loose and with swagger,’’ Beveridge said.
❚ Tickets for Friday night’s game are available at ILT Stadium Southland reception and at ticketek.co.nz.