U 18 Final FoursEnglish Institute of SportSunday May 2nd 2010

The Final Fours present something of a change this year with the RAF sponsorship ended and all arrangements in the hands of England Basketball. EIS will be fitting venue with superior playing surfaces and a host of facilities. It will be interesting to see if the venue draws more crowds than RAF Cosford or RAF Cranwell.

There is no surprise in the fact that it’s the top two teams of the Northern and Southern Premier Leagues preparing for the battle of the boards. Gathered in the one place will be a rich array of sporting talent, many of whom will have played as opponents or as team mates, for there are many England players across the teams. Player knowledge of their opponents will be more substantial and makes for an interesting set of games. Fatigue, however, will undoubtedly be a factor and no team can expect an easy passage. The thoughtful management of rest, nutrition and hydration will be key and ignoring these risks failure.

An oddness about the Sharks’ Semi Final is that they are drawn as the ‘away’ team for the Semi in this their home city. It’s simply the way the fixtures draw plays itself out. Other than that it will be business as usual for the Sharks who can spend just a little more time in bed whilst other teams are en route or unfolding themselves from a night in a strange hotel.

The fact that the Sheffield Junior Sharks took their game to Manchester in the Sureshot Cup Final on a day of heavy snow and nightmare travelling conditions to triumph over Bristol City Flyers should be kept well in mind. Playing in front of a large crowd in a big event will not be new to them. Also, Sharks are the only team to have defeated Manchester Magic this season in the League (and the Sureshot). These are worth bookmarking for the inevitable banter that will take place on the day.

Support for the Junior Sharks U18s is important for the club to muster. This will be a series of compelling games where our team deserves to be cheered on. It also provides the last change to see some of the team playing for their club before they move on. Not least in this will be Joseph Baugh with his ‘leaps from the deep’, Mykel Moody with his ‘iron man’ skills, and rifleman Ben Cepulis. These three starters and other coming-of-age players have increased and good reason to want to do well for their club and on home turf.

Chances are good that some basketball retailer will be on hand at the Finals with a variety of things to sell, and it will be a good opportunity for younger players to exercise their powers of persuasion over wallet or purse.

Final Fours attract a wide range of spectators and this will be no different, so expect national coaches, and a myriad of officials as well as some professionals to be mingling in the joy of what may prove one of the most exciting Final Fours in recent times.

All the very best to Sheffield Juniors Sharks U18s and to their coaches. Go for it!