Sharks bite back in play-offs decider to end Riders’ season
SHEFFIELD WIN THIRD GAME TO REACH THE SEMI-FINALS
LEICESTER Riders’ season ended in the BBL Play-off quarter-finals after losing 86-69 to Sheffield Sharks in game three, writes Charlie Walker.
After a closely fought first half, matching the tone set in the opening two games of the series, the Sharks blew the game open in the third with hot shooting, and the Riders couldn’t get back in it.
Samuel Idowu fought hard to chip into the deficit with 13 third quarter points, and led the team in the game with 16 points.
But it wasn’t enough to make any inroads, and the Sharks advanced to the semi-finals. As he did in game one, Prentiss Nixon led the Sharks with 17 points in 19 minutes of play.
Riders fight back after slow start
Sharks had an electric start, with Malek Green capping off a 7-2 run from the tip-off with a putback jam.
Sesan Russell found a response with a three from the top to momentarily quiet the crowd, but Devearl Ramsey and Green combined backto-back to retake momentum.
A shot clock violation from the Riders highlighted their slow offensive start.
It was rookie Jaren Holmes whose aggression got them going as he pulled the strings with a drive to the hoop.
He drew a foul with 4:41 left in the first quarter, his foul shots making the score 11-9, and Mo Walker tied it up at the rim a minute later.
The Riders took their first lead of the game when Teddy Allen hit his first three off the dribble, but the Sharks had the better of the final minute of the first quarter, with Prentiss Nixon banking in a three to end it, the hosts leading 24-21.
Riders run meets Ratinho response
Two Sheffield corner threes started the second quarter to give them a seven point lead.
It was quickly double digits through Eytle-Rock on the break, forcing a timeout by Riders head coach Rob Paternostro.
A Miryne Thomas three stopped the bleeding, and after Idowu blocked Kipper Nichols driving to the rim, TJ Lall ran the break for two to cut into the deficit.
As the Riders looked to equal the score, it was Holmes again leading the charge.
His and-one finish followed by a breakaway two cut it to one with 3:06 left in the half.
But threes from Nichols and Jordan Ratinho undid the Riders’ work, and Ratinho hit another on the fastbreak to make the score 46-37 with one possession left in the second quarter.
That’s how the sides entered the half as Nixon missed a prayer on the buzzer.
Sharks blow game open in the third
Ramsey got the second half under way with a midrange, followed by three scores from Green, to give the hosts the better start in the third period and they led 53-37 three minutes in.
Idowu ran the pick-and-roll with Holmes to get two points back, but a Marcus Delpeche slam got the points straight back.
Idowu scored 13 points in the third quarter as he tried get the Riders back in it with his work around the rim.
But a rim-rocking alley-oop jam from Green took the roof off the Arena, and the score was 62-46 with 3:22 left in the period.
Sharks see it out
The Sharks caught fire to end the game.
Everything Pipkins and Nichols shot found string, allowing them to pull away to a 20-point advantage quickly in the fourth period.
Pipkins logged with 12th points to make the score 74-52.
Blake Bowman scored back-toback for the Riders, using his athleticism at the rim, but Pipkins hit another three on the other end.
The fourth quarter ended 17-17, and the Riders’ season came to a close.