Sheffield Sharks v York Vikings

February 20th 2009 - 11:15

Springs

Sheffield Sharks 27 29 23 23 102

York Vikings 10 07 03 07 27

After the 5min extra time win against the Newcastle team earlier that morning securing their playoff spot the Sharks were fired up and ready to take the court against the York Vikings who showed up with a small team of 8 players. The sharks were fortunate again to have the support from 5 U14s to round off the bench to eleven strong.

The Sharks took the court with a four out one in formation with Henryk Krajnieski at Post and Dale Stennett, Dennis Kaka, Lemar Darien-Campbell, and Wesley Skaines wrapping up the starting five. Taking no time to rack up the points through a very successful full court press yielding several steals the Sharks put together a quick succession of fast breaks. The sharks scoring began with Dale being the first to take a basket with a strong performance of rebounding and later knocking down 4 additional points. This was followed by Wesley attacking the boards with 8 points in the first 4 minutes of play through some brilliant steals and layups off fast breaks. Also coming on in the first was Tyler Gayle to feed the ball inside with some assists and a great steal. The first quarter saw the whole of the bench with all 11 players having minutes in play. This first period also showed an amazing all around performance from Lemar with some amazing defence and two late quarter baskets as well as some great basketball and a three pointer from Eddie Brownell after just taking to the court. Further punishment came from Henryk, Dennis, and Marcus Welsh each with a basket rounding off the Sharks first quarter 27 points to only 10 points for the Hawks.

With Connor Dixon first on the boards with 2 points in the second quarter start, the four out one in offence began to pay off with Henryk putting in back to back baskets and racking up the points and a string of rebounds for the quarter. Also with a superb three pointer from Dennis and further dominating play by Dale attacking the boards for an additional 6 points, the shark's bench began to show its strength as Josh Edwards pounded the boards with 6 points and Marcus Welsh with 2 points capping the second quarter of play.

The third quarter showed off the defensive training of the Sharks proving one of the best performances of defence from the sharks this year giving up only 3 points from the Vikings. Lamar began the scoring in the second half with 6 unanswered points followed by 5 unanswered points in the 6th minute of the third period by Marcus. Additionally, baskets from Dennis, Wesley, Conner, Josh, and Henryk closed the quarter with 23 points to only 3 from York.

In the fourth quarter the Sharks refrained from their fast breaks and began to work on a few set offensive plays. This still proved no less effective in racking up points as the Sharks put up an additional 23 points for the quarter. Tommy drawing an early foul from some smart work under the basket put up an early point in a free throw followed by two additional baskets in the third minute one of which looked like a three pointer. Also on fire in the fourth, shooting from Dale and Marcus, each putting up 6 points each, along with a further basket from the sure shooting Dennis, the quarter was closed out by a free throw for the 100th point of the game from Josh and a closing basket by Conner finishing the game for the Sharks at 102 to 27.

Stats: Dale Stennett (16pts,4rbd, 1 assist, 2steal), Marcus Welsh (16 pts 2rbd, 2assist, 6steal), Henryk Krajniewski (15pts, 9rbd, 2steal, 1assist, 1block ), Dennis Kaka (13pts,5rbd,8assist,6steals), Lemar Darien-Campbell (10pts,3rbd,1assist,7steals), Wesley Skaines (10pts,1rbd,8assist,4steals), Josh Edwards (8pts,2rbd,1assist), Connor Dixon (6pts,4rbd,4steal), Tommy Price (5pts,4rbd,2assist,1steal), Eddie Brownell (3pts, 1rbd, 4assist,1steal), Tyler Gayle (1rbd,2assist,1steal).