BBL Championship Play-off Quarter Final
Kularoos Plymouth Raiders 91 (23,45,64) (Beasley
26, Lasker 22, Moore 18)
Sheffield Sharks 73 (16,38,54) (Whyte 16, Chaney 14, Ant.
Virgil 12)
The Kularoos Plymouth Raiders have made it to the BBL Finals
Weekend for the first time in their history after overcoming
the Sheffield Sharks 91-73 at Plymouth Pavilions.
It is the first time in eight years that the Sharks have
not featured in the final four of the BBL Championship Playoffs.
The first three playoff games have gone according to form
as sides from the top four have progressed on each occasion.
In this game, the Raiders beat the Sharks for the third time
this season and ensured that they go into Finals Weekend with
momentum after notching their third straight win.
DeAntoine Beasley returned from a shoulder injury to lead
the way with 26 points, supported by 22 from Drew Lasker and
18 from Gaylon Moore. James Whyte led the resistance with
16 points.
There was a tight start to the contest as the teams who finished
third and sixth in the BBL Championship traded blows; a James
Whyte triple saw the game tied at 9-9 in the first quarter.
The Raiders then posted the first run of the game as Drew
Lasker triples started and finished a 14-4 burst that saw
them leading 23-13 late in the first.
The Raiders continued in the same vein in the second stanza
as a 12-5 opening made it 35-21, and tempers were flaring
amongst the Sharks as Atiba Lyons was called for a technical
foul. However, Sheffield composed themselves and notched a
12-5 push to narrow the deficit to 45-38 at half time.
The visitors then held their hosts scoreless for the opening
2:45 of the third quarter as the score became 45-40. From
there the Raiders scored the next 7 points, including a triple
from DeAntoine Beasley who was returning from an injury suffered
against the Sharks some weeks ago. The Raiders led 52-40 and
kept it in double-figures for the remainder of the game.
When 'The Greens' opened the decisive quarter with an 8-0
burst, capped by a triple from Allister Gall, they led 72-54
and would not allow the Sharks to get much closer. Sheffield
hit a series of three-pointers late in the game but the Raiders
maintained their poise from the free-throw line to book their
place at the biggest event in British basketball.
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