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Sharks dumped out with last-gasp attack
Leicester Riders 72 Sheffield Sharks 71
SHEFFIELD Sharks suffered the cruellest possible exit from the play-offs last night as a last second basket by Leicester Riders sent the East Midlands club through to the Final Four.
It was typical of the Sharks season that it should end in such a fashion with much promised... but disappointment at the outcome.
Sharks led throughout the final stages of the match and looked to be in control of at least forcing overtime when Riders inbounded the ball trailing 71-69 with 10 seconds remaining.
However, sharpshooter Bradd Wierzbicki, who up to that point had endured a torrid night, was left open to nail a three-pointer with just one second on the clock.
Player-coach Atiba Lyons said the shot could have been prevented: "At that stage of the game it is human nature to go and help your team-mate but by doing that we left Bradd wide open.
"It was a tough shot and he did well to make it. We'd said all night we didn't want to give up the threes but I'd never tell our guys to let them get an easy two which would have sent it to overtime.
"We should have defended it and in some ways it epitomised our season; we missed a free throw then they hit a three. When you win a game all that is forgotten, when you lose it is all you think about."
The match had been tight throughout as Sharks began well to open up a 12-6 lead thanks to 10 points from captain Chris Sanders. Riders responded with a 7-0 run, which helped them take a 21-18 score into the second period.
Sharks enjoyed the better of the play before half-time. A James Whyte three put them in front at 34-31 and assistant player-coach Todd Cauthorn sunk another three on the buzzer to make it 43-38.
The third quarter was a see-saw affair as the lead swapped hands four times, with five ties. Sharks point-guard Perry Lawson finally broke the stalemate with a three to give Sheffield a 57-54 advantage with ten minutes left.
A 9-2 run put Sheffield in charge at 66-62 with three minutes on the clock and after Riders levelled at 66-66 Matt Gorman, who was superb in the fourth quarter, and James Whyte kept them in front.
It looked like Lyons' team would hold on until Wierzbicki's heroics left them no time to respond.
Sharks scorers: Whyte 17, Gorman 14, Sanders 14, Rivers 14, Brown 6, Lawson 3, Cauthorn 3.
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Weather for Sheffield
Wednesday 23 May 2012
Today
Sunny
Temperature: 13 C to 24 C
Wind Speed: 8 mph
Wind direction: East
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Temperature: 12 C to 24 C
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