Va va voom Virgil leads power show

Sheffield Sharks overcame perennial rivals Cheshire Jets 68-74 yesterday to conclude a hugely successful opening weekend for Peter Scantle bury's team.

The win follows their opening night defeat of the SAMG Verve Scottish Rocks and sees the Sharks as early pace-setters in the BBL Championship.

Former Jet Alto Virgil, who chose the Sharks over the Jets in the Summer's contract negotiations, returned to haunt his former side as he led the Sharks with 21 points. Forward Steve Parillon added 17 and Virgil's backcourt partner Justice Graham contributed 13 points.

A tight game throughout was decided within the last two minutes as Virgil made a three-pointer and a field goal in consecutive plays to give the Sharks a decisive 64-72 lead that proved too much for the Jets to come back from in the latter stages.

The Sharks owed a lot to their accuracy from beyond the arc as Virgil and Graham each made a trio of three-pointers, and Raymond McKeithan scored twice from downtown.

Three triples in the fourth quarter helped the visiting Sharks pull away from their opposition. By contrast, the Jets will rue their misses as they made just one solitary three-pointer all game, from Chris Brown in the fourth quarte.

The Sharks had edged a tight first-quarter to lead 19-21, and the teams were tied at 38 by the half. After the Jets had scored the opening basket of the third, the Sharks hit back with the next five points and maintained their lead from that point.

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