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Sharks in play-off as Scots hit the rocks
Sheffield Sharks 66 Scottish Rocks 62
IT HAS has been a long hard road for Sheffield Sharks this season, but for one night at least there were celebrations as Atiba Lyons team clinched a play-off spot with victory over Scottish Rocks last night at the EISS.
Both teams went into the match fighting over sixth place in the BBL and both knew a win would mean at least one extra fixture this season.
So it was no surprise that the game was a tight, defensive affair. Sharks had their chances to blow it open, but Rocks, led by the indefatigable Rob Yanders refused to give in and it took a free throw by fans Player of the Year Chris Sanders 1.4 seconds from the end to finally see off the visitors.
After a tight beginning, back-to-back three pointers by Sanders gave Sharks a 14-13 lead and a further four points stretched it out to 18-13 before James Whyte gave Sheffield their biggest margin of the first quarter at 21-15.
Another Sanders three opened the second period to make it 25-18 and two quick scores by Whyte gave Sharks a nine point cushion (29-20). Rocks fought hard to stay in touch though and an 8-3 close to the half saw them trail 34-30 at the interval.
Threes from Sanders, Perry Lawson, Sherman Rivers and a three-point play by Whyte helped Sharks move out to 46-39 midway through the third quarter before an 11-4 Rocks burst tied the match at 50-50. Sanders scored the last five points of the period to give Sheffield a crucial 55-50 lead.
Again Sharks had their long range shooting to thank as Matt Gorman and Whyte connected early in the fourth quarter to establish a seven point lead (61-54).
Rocks responded in kind through Yanders and they had a chance to tie the match at 65-65 but the point-guard's shot fell short giving Sanders the chance to seal the match from the line.
News of Cheshire Jets overtime defeat at Everton Tigers, which confirmed Sharks play-off berth, came as Lyons reflected on his team's performance.
"We got it done tonight; it was a very ugly game but we executed just enough to get the win. I knew they'd try to make it a scrappy game and play a lot of zone. We made a few too many turnovers and we could have broken it open a couple of times; they played hard though."
Sharks travel to Worcester Wolves tomorrow for their final match of the regular season. A win would secure sixth position while defeat could see them slip to seventh or eighth.
Sharks scorers: Sanders 22, Whyte 19, Rivers 8, Brown 9, Gorman 4, Lawson 3, Lyons 1.
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Weather for Sheffield
Friday 10 February 2012
Today
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Temperature: -6 C to 0 C
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Sunny spells
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