THE COUNTDOWN HAS BEGUN, SHARKS V EAGLES

 

The last time the Sheffield Sharks and the Newcastle Eagles met was on the 11th of March this year, and the Eagles came out on top, with a convincing 80-66 win.

The Sharks however, boast the all time head-to-head record at a convincing thirty seven games to twenty nine. They also hold the record for games won at home between the two sides, at 19- 12, and currently sit top of the BBL Championship table, under the stewardship of player-coach, Atiba Lyons.

Having dropped only one game so far this season, their first outing of the season to the Jelson Homes DMU Leicester Riders, Lyons sees the Eagles' game as a way of providing a benchmark or indication of how his team will do this season.

He explained: 'It is always a good test to see where you stand as a team when you play against Newcastle. They are very consistent team and will be a top team in the BBL again this season. I feel we have the tools necessary to get a win, we just have to be ready mentally because it will be a tough game.'

Lyons' side met the Glasgow Rocks in Championship competition last time out before making the long trip to the Worthing Thunder for a BBL Cup. This was a game the Sharks' managed to win by just 1 point 93 - 92.

The 6'6'' Forward reflected on two vital victories. 'Last weekend, we were able to get two hard fought wins. Against the Rocks, they really kept us off balance switching defences. We were able to adjust and weather their runs in the second half. The following night we travelled down to Worthing where we let a 12-point lead slip in the second half. They made a great push at us but we did just enough for the win. They guys know we still have work to do and have a lot of room for improvement.'

Eagles' player-coach, Fab Flournoy, said that as the teams were fairly equally matched on depth, it will come down to who performs best on the night.

He said: 'Sheffield will be a really tough test. They have won seven straight and are obviously playing with confidence. Both teams are basically seven deep, so it will come down to who plays best on the night.'

Two of the biggest stories of the night will be the performances of Shark's new boys Tafari 'TAP' Toney and Mike Cook.

'TAP' was the biggest story of the close season when the news broke that he was leaving Newcastle Eagles and signing for the Sheffield Sharks.

Some Eagles' fans were less than happy with his choice of club and it is an absolute certainty that he will be hoping to show that the choice of which club to play for is his and his alone.

Mike Cook on the other hand will, like the Eagles' new man Joe Chapman, be experiencing one of the bitterest rivalaries in British Basketball for the very first time. Cook has made a serious name for himself since arriving in the BBL but this will be one of his sternest tests yet.