Game Preview: Sharks vs. Rocks Friday 16th Oct '09
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Friday 16 October 2009 (7.30pm) @ EIS, Sheffield
This weekend is jam packed of BBL Championship action, as well as the first few opening round cup games for this season, as all of the BBL's thirteen sides take to the court looking for early season wins in either of these competitions. Several sides face double headers, and one of these is the Sheffield Sharks, who before facing a tough Worthing Thunder, take on a talented Glasgow Rocks team at the EIS, Sheffield on Friday evening.
As well as comfortably holding the all time head to head between the two sides at 36-14, the last game between the sides on 17th April this year was a four point Sharks victory at the EIS, avenging their five point loss to the Rocks at Kelvin Hall back in January. Both sides have always been respected within the British game, and both can head into the game confident that they will have successful seasons in the league, as Sheffield currently sit top of the BBL Championship table with four wins from five games, the Rocks have won two games out of the four they have played recently, being agonisingly edged out in single digit losses to Worthing and Newcastle recently.
Player coach Sterling Davis commented on the upcoming Sharks game and his side's performance in their win against the Worcester Wolves:
'I have mixed emotions about last weekend; on one side, we made way too many mistakes with the ball and defensively we were struggling; on the other side, we came out of a tough situation with a win and at the end of the day that's what its about.'
'Excluding the fact that they are are top of the league right now, Sheffield have everything. They have a well balanced team with big presences on both the inside and the outside. We will have to be ready.'
His equivalent at Sheffield, Atiba Lyons is pleased with how is team is coming together, but admitted that American big man Matt Gorman probably would not suit up this weekend:
'I am very pleased with how the team is shaping up. We are fitting together nicely. The bonus is that Matt Gorman hasn't even played a game. He probably won't be ready for this weekend, and I don't want to rush him back to action too quickly.'
On the Rocks, Lyons said the following:
'The Rocks have retained a quality core from previous years with (Rob) Yanders, Sterling (Davis) and (Gareth) Murray. Returning three starters is a huge advantage in the BBL. The addition of American guard Jesse Sapp makes them very dynamic and an explosive scoring team.'
Posted on 14 October, 2009
