BBL Trophy, Group Stage
One Health Sharks Sheffield 92 (24,52,64) (Tuck 24, Dagostino 21, Williams 15)
Newcastle Eagles 91 (19,41,71) (Moore 18, Chapman 17, Defoe 16)

The Newcastle Eagles - defending BBL Trophy champions - had already clinched their berth to the semi-finals of the competition before losing a thrilling game 92-91 to the One Health Sharks Sheffield on Friday night.

The Sharks had led by double figures in the first half, the Eagles did so in the fourth quarter, before a clutch free-throw from Steve Dagostino won the game for the hosts. Mike Tuck led the Sharks with 24, while Dagostino had 21.

In the first half, the Sharks took a first quarter lead at 24-17 courtesy of a 7-0 run, sparked by Ryan Patton's triple. It became a 10-point lead early in the second as a Tuck triple and Lyons score opened the period at 29-19.

Three-pointers from Andrew Bridge and Trey Moore kept the Eagles in touch, but Patton responded with two treys of his own to make the score 37-25. The Eagles came back again as Smith's three sparked a 9-0 run to make it a one possession game at 37-34. But Lyons stemmed the flow for the hosts with six points in the next few minutes - he was 5/5 for 12 points up to that point - as the Sharks reinstated their double-figure lead, going in 52-41 at the half.

However, the Eagles made an amazing 18 point swing as they scored 30 third quarter points. It started with Defoe scoring 4 in a 6-0 run, before Smith added 6 in a further spell of 10 unanswered points to give the Eagles the lead at 58-61. The turnaround was complete late in the quarter as Chapman's triple saw the Eagles take a 64-71 lead into the fourth.

But it wasn't enough, despite them opening up a double digit lead at 67-69, as the guard pairing of Lockhart and Moore opened the fourth with four points each, and it was still 73-85 on a Joe Chapman triple with just over six minutes left. The Sharks' comeback ensued as Paul Williams scored 5 in a 9-0 surge and it was a one possession game entering the final two minutes, at 87-89, courtesy of a Dagostino three-pointer. The same player tied the game within the final minute, before Williams made 2/2 at the line with 18 seconds left. Moore thought he might have sent the game into overtime, tied at 91, when he scored with 7 seconds left. But Charles Smith fouled Dagostino with 3 seconds on the clock; the guard made the first and missed the second, and when Williams grabbed the offensive rebound, the game was over.

After the game, Sharks' Head Coach Atiba Lyons commented, "We had no problem getting the guys up for the game tonight, they are a self-motivated team. I want people to keep talking about our guards, because the big guys just keep getting it done. It was good for us to get the win after coming from behind."

BBL Championship
One Health Sharks 116 (23,51,82) (Patton 33, Dagostino 31, Stout/W1lliams 16)
UCP Marjon Plymouth Raiders 73 (18,38,54) (Rowe 16, Colbert/Toppert 14)

The One Health Sharks Sheffield got their BBL Championship campaign off to an emphatic start as they piled on the points against the UCP Marjon Plymouth Raiders eventually winning 116-73 at the EISS on Friday evening.

In a game the Sharks led from tip-to-buzzer, both teams traded baskets throughout much of the opening period, but it was the home side who found themselves leading by five points at 23-18 heading into the second quarter.

In the second period, a three-pointer from Ryan Patton sparked a 15-8 burst for the Sharks to take the score out to 42-33 midway through the period, and a further 7-0 run to end the half gave the home side a 51-38 lead heading into the locker rooms at the half-time interval.

In the second half, the Sharks broke the game open with a 23-9 tear to close out the third period leading 82-54 heading into the final stanza.

In the final period the Raiders began strongly as they enjoyed a 9-2 run to get the score back to 84-63, but the Sharks were not about to let them back into the game as they rattled off a 26-4 burst, including 12 points for Mike Tuck, to take the score out to 110-67 and the Sharks held on for the comfortable victory.

Ryan Patton (pictured) led all scorers in the game with 33 points and he was assisted by a further 31 points for Steve Dagostino, while Anthony Rowe led the scoring for the Raiders with 18 points personal. At the end of the game,

Sharks' player/coach Atiba Lyons was pleased to get their Championship campaign off to a winning start: "I am delighted with the win and even happier with the way that we kept going in the final quarter and didn't take our foot off the gas and carried on playing right til the end."

"Being able to play myself after injury tonight helped a lot with our defence and I think had a calming influence on the floor as there are a lot of guys in my team that are new to the BBL and I think that helped with the way that we played down the stretch."

BBL Championship
Mersey Tigers 80 (21,38,59) (Sullivan 26, Jones 17, Aliu 16)
Newcastle Eagles 58 (19,30,43) (Smith 13, Defoe 11, Chapman 10)

The 2010/11 BBL Championship season tipped off on Sunday evening at the Echo Arena on Merseyside as last season's playoff champions - the Mersey Tigers - comprehensively beat last season's league champions - the Newcastle Eagles - 80-58 to get their league campaign off to the ideal start.

Former Eagles' star Andrew Sullivan led the Tigers with a haul of 26 points and 7 rebounds against his former club, while James Jones had 17 points, 6 boards and 4 assists. Charles Smith led the Eagles with 13 points.

The first quarter provided few clues of what was to come as the teams could barely be separated in the early exchanges. Joe Chapman put the visitors up 6-9 with a three-pointer, before the lead then changed hands on four occasions. Two late scores from James Jones helped the Tigers to edge the opening stanza 21-19.

The Eagles snatched the lead back early in the second on Kadiri Richard's score, to make it 23-25. But from there, the Tigers held their visitors scoreless for large parts of the period as they made the game's decisive run. A James Jones steal and score on a coast-to-coast, followed by the same player feeding Drew Sullivan for an 'and-one' play, made the score 34-25. It became 38-25 as Sullivan scored his seventeenth point of the first half to cap a 14-0 surge. Charles Smith stemmed the flow and helped the Eagles to narrow the deficit to 38-30 at the halfway point.

However, a 9-4 start to the third restored the double-digit lead for the Tigers and it wouldn't get any lower in the remainder of the game. The Eagles got to within 14 in the fourth quarter on Aaron Nielsen's three-pointer, but Jones and David Aliu saw the game out for the Tigers as they ran away with it down the stretch, scoring the last 8 points.

There's a rematch of last season's play-off semi-final at the EIS on Friday as Sheffield Sharks and Glasgow Rocks meet in the BBL Trophy. Sheffield won their home leg of the tie, by three points but an 80-72 win for the Rocks in Glasgow sent the Scottish team into the title game.

Last season's Trophy competition was played on a knockout basis, and the sides met in the first round with Rocks winning a low-scoring game 69-60 in Glasgow. However, the Sharks had more luck in their three BBL Championship meetings as they completed a 3-0 sweep.

With Atiba Lyons returning for a third season as Sharks player-coach, he admits that he would have liked more time with his squad before they open their season on Friday, but is happy with how things are progressing:

"We have had a very short pre-season" he said. "Due to the earlier start of the season we haven't been able to get our players in as early as we would like. We have made the best of the time we have played together and things are shaping up nicely.

"This team is a much different style of team than last year. We have more scoring options and guys capable of creating for others in all positions. However, we lack the depth we had last season so we need to play very smart as we are holding off on any new signings at the moment."

Lyons has a good idea of the test his side will face on Friday: "I know the Rocks were able to re-sign [Mike] Copeland who had a terrific second half of the season. Also they picked up EJ Harrison who I felt at times carried Milton Keynes last season.

"I was able to see Brice Fantazia play in a summer camp in Vegas. He is a very active wing player who moves very well without the ball and can get to the rim. It was a great pick up for Sterling. He has some great pieces for the upcoming season."

With talisman Rob Yanders departing in the summer, Rocks have added former Guildford Heat and Marshall MK Lions EJ Harrison to their roster, but Davis was keen to put pressure on Yanders' replacement: "EJ was the last player in, and he's trying to a leader. But it's not about filling anyone's boots, he's a proven player and it's good to bring a veteran into the side. There's no extra pressure on him."

 

Sheffield Sharks legend Todd Cauthorn has announced his retirement from the game. Cauthorn, aged 39, has decided to call time on a glorious career after spending the summer considering whether to play one final season for the club which he first joined in 1994.

But with family and work commitments taking up more and more of his time he decided leave on a high, with last year being a successful one on the court for both himself and Sheffield.

"It has been a decision I have thought about all summer," he said. "In the end there were a number of reasons why now is the right time for me to retire as a professional player.

"I do so after playing as a starter in every game for a team that won the BBL Cup and finished runners-up in the league last season. My love for playing the sport hasn't diminished, but in the end I had to make this decision with my head and not my heart."

Cauthorn, from Virginia, played division one NCAA basketball with the College of William & Mary in the tough Colonial Athletic Association conference before joining the Sharks.

He was part of the team that stunned the BBL by winning the league and cup double in the club's first season. And silverware was never far from his grasp as he won the league twice, the BBL Cup four times and the BBL Trophy twice.

Spells in Belgium, at Chester Jets and with the Sheffield Arrows all led back to the Sharks. It is fitting, he says, that he will retire a Sharks player. "I didn't think I would totally do myself justice if I played again this season. Hopefully the team will have another good year and I hope the club continues to be successful in the future."

Sarah Backovic, one of the Sharks' owners, said Cauthorn's retirement marks the end of an era for the club:

"Todd will always be special to the Sharks because he was one of the original players. Since then he has epitomised everything that is good about the club. He is entirely committed, is all about the team and is a fantastic basketball player.

"Those stepping into Todd's shoes will have a lot to live up to because he has been one of the most successful players the BBL has seen. We wish him all the best for the future and look forward to seeing him at games in a non-playing capacity."

Sharks player-coach Atiba Lyons said: "As a player you always wanted Todd to be playing with you rather than against you because he not only has great ability but he never knows when he is beaten.

"He was superb last season in helping to gel a new team together so quickly into the Sharks ethos by setting a great example. We'll miss his toughness and leadership in the locker room and on court.".

mikeshaft.com SAYS THANK YOU TODD CAUTHORN

The Mersey Tigers have continued their summer recruitment drive by adding rising BBL star Tafari Toney to their roster for the new BBL campaign.

The 6"8 former Sheffield Sharks and Newcastle Eagles man has arrived on Merseyside hot on the heels of GB captain Andrew Sullivan.

Head coach Tony Garbelotto is delighted with the club's new acquisition and revealed his delight at finally being able to get his man having tracked him last summer:

"This is another major signing for our team. Tafari was one of the best players in the league last year and was instrumental in Sheffield winning one Trophy and coming close to winning the league.

"We tried to sign him before last season but things did not work out. I am glad we have managed to put the deal together this time round.

"Although I still believe he can only get better technically and tactically, his work effort, heart and desire are so great that he can only make our frontcourt and team better.

"We are very excited to be working with him and getting the rest of the players on the practice floor."

The 24-year-old forward will join up with the rest of his team mates in time for the start of the Tigers campaign next month when they travel to Chester Jets for their opening game in the BBL Trophy.

It rounds off a busy period of recruitment for the new-look Tigers who have also recently announced that James Jones and Andy Thomson will be staying on at the club after agreeing contract extensions.

Standard Life Great Britain Head Coach Chris Finch believes his team deserve a spot at the 2012 Olympics following their second straight qualification for the EuroBasket finals. Thursday’s heart-stopping 94-85 victory against Bosnia & Herzegovina sealed a place in Lithuania 2011, but Finch believes that his team have also done enough to justify their place in London 2012.

"I can’t change what happens off the court, but we’ve met every performance mark they’ve laid down and we believe we’re entitled to our rightful spot by the way we’ve played. I’m really proud of what our guys have done" he said.

It’s been five years of success for GB, having gained promotion from Division B at the first attempt and then qualified for back-to-back European Championships.

Finch looked back with satisfaction at his side’s achievement:“This one is more satisfying than the last one. No one outside the GB organisation expected us to be here, but I said to the guys that we had to prove ourselves all over again.”

“We’ve show it wasn’t a fluke two years ago, we’ve had a taste of it and we think that we belong at that level. We learned a lot last year, and hopefully we’ll build on that this time.”

Finch also had praise for GB women who reached their first finals with a 77-59 hammering of Germany: “Congratulations to the women, it’s an amazing accomplishment to have turned the programme around. They’re like us now, they expect to win every time they step on the floor.”

GB’s victory was watched by Detroit Pistons star Ben Gordon, and Finch remains hopeful that he will up with the squad next summer: “We’re looking forward to Ben playing for us. It’s a fantastic show of support from him.

“We’ve been courting him for years, and Luol [Deng] has helped us a lot. He’s gone from saying the right things to sending an email and saying he wants to come and watch us. I hope he’ll be with us next summer, but there’s a long time between now and then.”