Game Report: Bristol Flyers 78-76 B. Braun Sheffield Sharks

In what arguably could be described as the game of the season so far, the Bristol Flyers completed an incredible comeback to beat the B. Braun Sheffield Sharks 78-76 in overtime and snapped their five-game losing streak in the British Basketball League.

This dub is the first time the Flyers have won since November 05, and helps them improve to a record of 9-9 while the Sharks fall to 9-7.

Starting Five

Bristol Flyers starting five: Tevin Olison, CJ Jackson, Raphell Thomas-Edwards, Rowell Graham-Bell, Brad Greene

Sheffield Sharks starting five: Devearl Ramsey, Jalon Pipkins, Kipper Nichols, Jordan Ratinho, Bennett Koch

First Half

The game started with Bristol’s defence and transition offence making life difficult for Sheffield.

Tevin Olison managed to break away twice on the fast break and finished for a quick 4-0 run (6-4).

That was followed by a steal from Brad Greene who went coast-to-coast and finish with a eurostep (8-6).

Following the media timeout, the Sharks turned up the intensity on defence and kept their opponents scoreless until the end of the period.

Coupled with a couple of layups by Kipper Nichols, a pair of free throws by RJ Eytle-Rock and a triple by Jordan Ratinho, the visitors were up 10-19 at the end of the first.

The second quarter saw the Flyers break their scoring drought, but the Sharks managed to increase their lead to a game-high 14 points (17-31), when Jubril Adekoya connected from downtown.

The hosts didn’t give up, however, and continued to fight in front of their home crowd.

Trejon Jacob completed his team’s 8-0 run (25-31) when he faked his opponent on the three-point line, before driving hard to the basket and getting fouled for the and-one.

The Sharks didn’t allow their opponents to get any closer and kept their lead with excellent ball movement on offence.

Devearl Ramsey stole the ball, hustled to keep it in play by throwing it between his legs, before Sheffield’s rotation managed to find a wide open Ratinho who drained the triple (25-34).

Greene made one of his two free throws to form the final score of the first half 26-34.

Second Half

Sheffield came out in the second half full of intensity.

Bennett Koch blocked Rowell Graham-Bell on the first play of the quarter, before Jalon Pipkins finished on the fast break to bring their lead back up to double digits (26-36).

A slice of good fortune for Bristol as Ramsey missed the layup, before Olison drained the three, which allowed the hosts to make it a single digit game (31-40).

But Ramsey corrected his mistake and sunk a triple on the very next play (31-43).

As the period progressed, the two teams were even, with the difference at around the 10-point margin.

Olison weaved through the Sheffield defence and finished beautifully with a eurostep for the and-one (39-48), with 90 seconds left.

Despite missing his free throw, the American guard grabbed his own rebound, which eventually led to a layup by Greene, completing a 6-0 run for the hosts (41-48).

A floater by Prentiss Nixon completed the scoring for the third period, with the Sharks leading 41-50.

Sheffield started the fourth quarter on a 6-0 run after Parker Stewart hit a triple, which gave them their largest lead of the game (41-56).

Bristol then went on a little 5-0 run of their own, after Olison hit his team’s first three-pointer of the game (46-56).

As the clock was winding down, everything seemed to be going wrong for the Flyers, with Smith tipping the ball into his own basket, giving the Sharks a 10-point lead (55-65) with just over a minute left.

That’s when everything changed…

Smith made up for his error draining a three, before deflecting Ramsey’s pass, forcing the turnover, which led to a triple by Olison (61-65).

It was all of a sudden a four-point game with 50 seconds left.

After Ramsey hit only one of his two free throws, Smith converted once again from behind the arc, this time throwing up a desperation shot as the shot-clock was winding down and banking it in (64-66).

Olison proceeded to steal the ball off the Sheffield inbound, before the refs called a double-dribble. 

Following a discussion amongst themselves, the refs overturned their decision and gave the ball to Bristol.

With 10 seconds left on the clock, Olison made a layup to tie the game at 66 apiece.

Sheffield failed to score on their last offence and the game went to overtime.

Overtime

The Flyers had all the momentum going into the additional five minutes following their impressive comeback.

They capitalised fully, with Corey Samuels connecting from downtown and giving them their first lead since the first quarter (69-66).

Jacob then twice showed the ice in his veins, hitting two threes from the same corner spot, to make it a two-possession game (76-70).

A layup by Smith with just under a minute left made the score 78-70 and it seemed like Bristol were about to celebrate a very famous win.

But just like the fourth quarter, this game wasn’t over and Sheffield were the ones to fight back this time.

Starting with a three by Ratinho, the Sharks kept the pressure on, before Bennett Koch converted both of his free throws, making it a three-point game (78-75).

Jacob received a technical foul after missing a layup with less than 20 seconds left, which allowed Nichols to make it a two-point game (78-76), with Sheffield having the last possession.

It wasn’t meant to be however and a brilliant block by Smith on Adekoya secured the 78-76 win for Bristol.

Player of the Game

Tonight’s Player of the Game was Leslee Smith. The Bristol Flyers forward came off the bench and in 28 minutes recorded a double-double of 13 points and 11 rebounds. He also had two crucial three-pointers at the end of regulation, as well as the game-winning block on Adekoya.