Georgina Lennon :: Sheffield Sharks V SAMG Verve Scottish Rocks Match Report ...

One basket stood between the SAMG Verve Scottish Rocks and the Sheffield Sharks on Friday night with Sharks taking an 85-82 win at the EIS in Sheffield.

The Rocks led the way throughout, however the game remained tight throughout, with a few points splitting the teams at the end of each quarter.

At the end of the third, the score sat at 66-68, with the Rocks leading but in the fourth things turned the home-sides way.

With five minutes to go the Sharks had slipped to a 70-77 deficit after a three-pointer from Rock’s, Moritz Wholers followed by a quick lay-up from Maurice Hampton, however they fought back as Justice Graham and Alto Virgil brought Sharks back to a 77-77 tie.

From that point the Sharks made a play to steal the game, Raymond McKeithan made a strong attack at the basket followed by a three from Graham and a huge score from Locker Okorie, putting the Sharks out in front with 2:49 left on the clock.

Former Shark, Rob Yanders took it upon himself to get the Rocks back in the game, scoring with 1:38 left but was blocked by Virgil on his second attempt.

Graham completed the scoring with a free-throw with 20 seconds remaining leaving the Rocks just short at the end.

It was Sterling Davis’s first game as new player-coach and although they didn’t win he still felt his team played a good game.

“There were lots of pluses throughout the game and for the most part we remained strong and held together, and manage to withstand what the Sharks threw at us,” said Davis.

“The team showed a lot of promise throughout the game.

“It was very close throughout and we led for the most part but we made some mistakes in the end and unfortunately that cost us the game.”

Top Scorers

Sharks: Graham 21, Chaney 20, Virgil 16
Rocks:  Yanders 21, Joseph 18, Wholers 13