Playoff Qualification at Stake
The Sheffield Sharks will look to wrap up the season series
against the Jelson Homes DMU Leicester Riders, and cement
their place in the BBL Championship Playoffs whilst ending
their opponent's qualification hopes, when the Setanta Sports
1 cameras arrive in Yorkshire on Wednesday evening (7.30pm).
The sides met at the beginning of the season in Leicester,
and a fine comeback from the visitors saw them win 69-67.
Some superb offence by the Riders had previously opened up
what appeared to be an unassailable lead at 59-42 heading
into the final stanza.
However, Leicester's advantage was cut into during a frantic
fourth quarter and, level at 67-67 with 10 seconds remaining,
a Shelby Chaney hook shot handed the victory to the visitors.
The second game in Leicester, three weeks ago, saw Riders
record their first league win of 2008 with a 78- 65 victory.
Riders' win was based on superb defence in the first and second
quarters which saw them lead 20-10 after ten minutes and 40-22
at half time.
Carlos White was the game's outstanding player as his 24-points,
15 boards, and four blocks came in just 22 minutes of action.
Sharks go into the game on the back of a 104-81 home victory
against Everton Tigers, and coach Peter Scantlebury was delighted
with the way his side played,
"We played really well on Friday, especially offensively,
we moved off the ball well and took good shots. Defensively
we cut down the options for their main guys, and did a good
job. Hopefully, we've turned the corner, but last time I said
that we played Newcastle on Setanta and lost, but I would
like to think we're in better shape now."
Having seen his side lose against the Riders last month,
Scantlebury is hoping for revenge,
"We owe Leicester one, and if we win on Wednesday it
will end their play-off chances, and guarantee ours. A win
against them would put us only one victory out of fifth place,
and if we could put a run together we could push on for fifth."
With Riders' form having also improved recently, Scantlebury
expects a tough game on Wednesday,
"Leicester have won their last two and we're both playing
well lately, so it should be a good game.
"Carlos White on the inside has been playing well, but
they have a lot of guys with experience who can hurt you.
We can't sleep on them by concentrating on White, and if they
get hot from outside the arc we'll be in trouble."
Riders coach Martin Ford is aware that Sharks are going into
the game on the back of a moral-boosting victory against Tigers,
"I didn't see them against Everton, but I'm told that
they moved the ball well, had good movement off the ball and
took good shots. They don't normally put up 100 points, so
they are obviously playing well.
"This game will be similar to the one against Worcester
last weekend. We'll need to slow down the guards, and we'll
have to slow down the guys who have been scoring recently,
which is Justice Graham and Alto Virgil. If we can keep Shelby
Chaney off the boards and try to limit them to one shot, we'll
have a chance."
Having won their last two games themselves, Ford is keen
for his side to keep up their recent good form,
"We need to keep the momentum going, and as it's a TV
game, more than anything I hope it'll be a good event and
help move the game forward. We want to keep on winning, both
for our own pride and to thank the fans for their support
this season. They've kept on turning up, supporting the players,
and they've rarely got on our backs. It's our turn to give
them something to enjoy."
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