Sheffield Sharks v Newcastle Eagles 84 - 92

Sky Sports Main Event at the Ponds Forge Arena, Sheffield win, they go 2nd, Newcastle win they cut the gap from London, its going to be a good one! Remember to check out my interview with Captain of the Sheffield Sharks - Mike Tuck

The game kicks off with a post up from seven footer, Evan Maxwell (16ppg 9.4rpg) 19secs into the game, forces it in and picks up another at the line. Koch answers back on an offense of their own, forcing Maxwell to pick up a foul, trimming the lead early on.

Koch gets off to a bright start early on, taking all 5 of Sheffield points for his own nearly equaling his season average of 7 points per game, just 2 minutes into the game. Kipper Nichols hits the elbow jumper over MVP candidate, Justin Gordon to cut the lead to 1pt. 7-8 Eagles, 6.45 left in the 1st.

Cortez Edwards gets a block over Nicholas Lewis from the 3pt line, doing Cortez Edward things on the fast break but adds to the Eagles turnover tally early on (3) in just 4 minutes of play compared to Sheffield's one.

Eagles have been scoreless since a Gordon dunk 2minutes into the game, Sheffield are on an 8-0 run 5mins into the 1st quarter.

Rahmon puts an end to that with a three pointer to tie the game at 11.

Captain Mike Tuck, comes on and makes an impact, hitting a 3 pointer getting to the free throw line and forcing 1/2 turnovers with 5pts off the bench.

BBL Player Of the Month, misses the layup but grabs the offensive rebound and gets the and one to tie the game at 18 with 30secs in the 1st. the 1st quarter finishes at 21-20 as Cortez Edwards answers Mike Tuck free throws with a 3pointer. Tuck has 7pts off the bench.

An exciting affair carries on in the 2nd quarter, in 3 minutes of play its level at 29-29 each, heavy defense and both teams attacking the rim, great spectacle for Sky Sports Main Event. Hemsley drives at the basket with a "great change of pace" quoted from Anthony Rowe to trim the game to a 2pt lead after a dry spell for the sharks.

The X2 MVP Rahmon Fletcher plays good defense gets the steal and scores on a left handed fingeroll to take the game to a 4pt lead 39-35. Justin Gordon gets the steal on the defensive end and gets the dime into Darius Defoe who gets the easy layup inside to take the biggest lead of the game of 6pts, 37-43.

Finsishes as a 12pt ball game after Newcastle eagles score six unasnwered points in just 60secs of basketball!

STAT LEADERS AT THE HALF

Points: Rahmon Fletcher (14) - Newcastle Eagles

Mike Tuck (11) - Sheffield Sharks

Darius Defoe (10) - Newcastle Eagles

Rebounds:

Antwon Lillard (6) - Sheffield Sharks

Rahmon Fletcher (4) - Newcastle Eagles

Bennett Koch (3) - Sheffield Sharks

Assists:

Justin Gordon (5) - Newcastle Eagles

Cortez Edwards (3) - Newcastle Eagles

Nicholas Lewis (2) - Sheffield Sharks

More of the same with Newcastle scoring early, an exciting start but Sheffield manage to cut the deficit by 2pts to get it down to 10. on 6.49 left Darius Defoe getshis 12th of the game with a right hand drive over Bennett Koch.

With Lillard and Lewis combining for Field Goal statline of 1/14, Sheffield were always going to struggle, especially when Rahmon Fletcher is hitting his threes to extend the lead to 16, 43-58. Hemsley answers back (6/7 on the game) with a 3 pointer of his own. Fletcher with the dime to Adenekan to extend it out to 14 again with 3.14 to go on the game. Flecther leads the league in assists average 8.5 a game.

With a block from Adenekan and another buzzer beating 3 pointer from Cortez Edwards , its going to be a long way back for Sheffield heading into the 4th quarter down by 21.

Sheffield trim the game within 3minutes of the 4th down to 10, going on an 11 - 0 run to open the quarter, answered by a Cortez Edwards elbow Jumper.

With 4.41 left on the clock Evan Maxwell goes 1/2 on the technical free throws to take the game out to 13. 80-67

With a sloppy possession from Hemsley, Pflueger takes the ball and lays in to extend it to 15, with 8pts on the game.

Despite a run from the Sharks in the 4th quarter and a deep 3 from Nicholas Lewis, it is not enough to get it done against the Newcastle Eagles.

The game finishes 92-84 in favour of the Newcastle Eagles and the game MVP goes to Cortez Edwards who hit 18pts racked up 5 rebounds and stole the ball 3 times whilst dishing out 4 dimes.

Thats it from me tonight, catch me next week for another Match Report of the CUP FINAL!