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Atiba says the fight will go on
Sharks player-coach Atiba Lyons refuses to leave the playing area after being ejected from the BBL Trophy semi-final first leg match with Newcastle Eagles at the EIS.
SHEFFIELD Sharks player-coach Atiba Lyons says the club will fight its way through the present difficulties it faces.
The Star understands that rules within the British Basketball League’s structure about Sharks’ contribution to running costs have seen Lyons deregistered for the last two matches.
Lyons said: “It is tough. But we’re fighting our way through it.
“It has been hard on us this season with different things coming up but we take it one day at a time and keep trying to dig ourselves out.
“We don’t have a lot of support out there from the league but we’ll keep playing and doing what we can.”
A further problem for Sheffield will come when Lyons faces a mandatory one match ban for being ejected during Friday’s match against Newcastle.
There was a five-minute delay as Lyons initially refused to leave the arena. However, he said he had to take a stand over what he saw as poor officiating.
He said: “In a game such as this, a Trophy semi, you’d expect to have the best refereeing you can and not people who can be swayed to lean to the favourites.
“At that point it was about my team and hoping we could close the gap.
“There wasn’t anything malicious in my mind. I just wanted to be in a position where it was a level playing field.
“If I feel like things are too much against us I get frustrated like everyone.”
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Saturday 26 May 2012
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