Game Report: London Lions 83-64 B.Braun Sheffield Sharks

London Lions unwrapped an early present on the eve of Christmas, beating the B. Braun Sheffield Sharks in British Basketball League action at the CopperBox on Sunday lunchtime.

With load management on the brain of Lions coach Petar Bozic ahead of their Boxing Day BKT EuroCup game in Paris, they beat a stubborn Sheffield side 83-64.

Conor Morgan paced the winners with a double-double of 15 points and 10 rebounds. Sharks were led by 15 points from Prentiss Nixon, off the bench.

Starting Five

London Lions starting five: Gabe Olaseni, Jordan Taylor, Sam Dekker, Conor Morgan, Matt Morgan
B.Braun Sheffield Sharks starting five: Devearl Ramsey, Jalon Pipkins, Kipper Nichols, Jordan Ratinho, Bennett Koch.

First Half

A solid start from the hosts, hitting their first three shots, highlighted by a steal and dunk from Sam Dekker, giving them the early advantage.

At the other end, the Lions constantly switched their defensive rotation between a 2-3 zone and man-to-man to confuse the sets that the Sharks were running, and it worked, as the visitors started just 1/8 from the field before the first timeout.

Trailing 13-2 midway through, the media timeout proved to be a blessing for Sheffield as a three from Prentiss Nixon from the wing and a putback from Kipper Nichols narrowed matters to 13-7.

The introduction of Luke Nelson off the bench gave London a lift as he buried two triples that helped the Lions to a 22-12 lead after one.

There were only four field goals for the Sharks, and they were unable to play their brand of basketball due to London dictating the pace along with their deadly accuracy.

And it didn’t get any better for the visitors in the second, but crucially nor the Lions, for the first four minutes of the second.

Thanks to Conor Morgan and Nelson, whose impact towards the latter stages of each quarter was felt, the hosts enjoyed a 42-27 cushion at the half.

Second Half

In danger of being left behind, Sheffield came out blazing in the third, starting on a 9-2 run to narrow the gap to single figures.

A dunk from Conor Morgan and a short jumper from Gabe Olaseni – his first points of the game nearly three minutes in – established that double-digit stranglehold again for London.

What happened next, though, was both teams piling on the turnovers along with the two sides holding their respective block parties at Christmas, but the third was certainly one for the defensive purists.

But most importantly, Sheffield missed shots that they usually make, and London, while not at a consistent rate, kept the scoreboard ticking, taking the quarter 62-47 and were in front.

With player rotation a factor for London, they shared the minutes in the final period, as they prepare to head out to the French capital on Christmas Day.

Player of the Game

A 15-point, 10-rebound double-double from Conor Morgan was enough for the Lions. It wasn’t their prettiest of performances, but he certainly steered them through.