Truly…you just had to be there!!! Now we got high-lights

Well it was truly one of those nights when you just had to be there.

One of my favourite NBA teams is the San Antonio Spurs with Tim Duncan, Tony Parker and Manu Ginobili.

There is a great story that one of their biggest road trips is called the ‘Rodeo Road Trip’ because they do not have access to their arena because the Rodeo is in town and they have use of the building.

Well I tell you what I cannot remember a gap as long as this one where we at the Sharks have not had a home game. It wasn’t the Sheffield Rodeo that caused the problem but, because of a variety of other events at the EISS, we did not have access to the venue.

The last time we assembled in Sheffield was on the 31st of January when we entertained the London Lions and that one went to OT.

And so it is that we all arrived on a Tuesday evening for one of the biggest nights of the BBL regular season.

I can honestly say I do not know how many encounters I have witnessed over the years between the Sharks and the Eagles but I do know they never fail to deliver.

Now before I start to wax lyrical about this evening, I warn you there are a number of things that disappointed me about the night.

Mind you, the result was not one of them.

Firstly we arrived at the EISS to the news that Jeremie Simmons and Demetrius Jemison were in their walking clothes, both having picked up injuries. The news got even worst for me when I found out that one of my favourite Eagles’ players, Darius Defoe would not be playing, also because of injury.

And so the ball went up on what would be one of the most amazing 1st quarters I have seen in a number of years. It was as if neither team could miss. Could this level of scoring continue through the game?

The score at the end of the 1st was 21 to the Sharks and 26 to the Eagles.

Malik Cooke led all with 12, assisted for the Eagles by Smith, Scott and Lasker all with 4. For the home team Tuck and Horstmann had 6 a piece.

Into the second and the Eagles continued to roll. Malik Cooke, who has been unstoppable almost every time I have seen him, was having a field day. By half time he had shot 6 for 9 (67%) from the field for a game leading 15 points.

The Sharks on the other had continued to spread it around. Olu Babalola would take his score to 11, Patrick Horstmann would move on to 8 while BJ Holmes would move on to 7.

At the half, the score was 39 to the Sharks and 45 to the Eagles.

There was a time when that sort of score could have signalled the end of the game against the Eagles but not so now.

This Sharks outfit has a resilience that is a joy to see. They simply keep working and do everything to keep themselves in the game.

I have to say that the 1st quarter was excellent and the 2nd was also a joy. Unfortunately the 3rd was far from satisfactory.

It was bitty with numerous whistles. The early exchanges were all eminently forgettable although the scoring did pick up towards the end of the quarter.

The score at the end of the 3rd was 65 to the Sharks and 71 to the Eagles.

And onto the 4th.

Now I have to say that no matter how long I spend on this report I would not be able to bring you the full intensity, excitement, joy and tension of this final stanza.

As you may know, I have been arguing for decades that there should be more British Basketball on terrestrial television. Presently there is none.

I am astonished that sport of the calibre continues to be denied to the general Licence fee paying public in the UK.

This final quarter was a joy to behold and the Sharks, the Eagles and the BBL as a whole should be delighted with the feast that was served up on this Tuesday evening in Sheffield.

In one letter from the then Director General of the BBC he suggested that they wanted Big Climatic Events.

Well I put it to British Television that there was no bigger, more climatic event anywhere on Tuesday night than here at the EISS.

With 4:22 left to play in the game the score was 74 to the Sharks and 85 to the Eagles, a deficit for the home team of 11 points.

If this game had been awesome to this point then it simply went off the scale. Every Sharks player would do their bit to ensure this famous victory. Colin Sing was monstrous including a two handed put back tip jam, if such a thing exists.

With 3:10 left to play, Tuck made 2 from the line and cut the deficit to 5. When Nick Lewis dropped a two we would be down 3. Charles Smith responded to take it back to 5.

From here, it might as well be called the BJ Holmes show.  At 1:05 to go, he stole the ball and dropped a deuce. Sharks down 2.

With 42 seconds left BJ takes the defensive rebound glides up the court and drops a three bomb on the Eagles. Sharks now up 1. I can tell you it’s been a long time since the Sharks led this ball game.

On the back of an Eagles’ timeout, Paul Gause drops a two and the visitors are back in front.

I have to tell you, this was like an NBA ending.

On the back of the Sharks time out, BJ, on a beautifully drawn up play, makes another from the field and Sharks are up 1.

With 9 second left Paul Gause misses a two point attempt only for Scott Martin to get the rebound and put it back for 2.

Eagles up 1.

With 5.1 seconds left the Sharks immediately call for time on the back of that score.

Incredibly, the Sharks draw up what looked like the exact same inbound play and again got it in. BJ had the ball… nice crossover and the he amazingly put up a three ball. Now the Sharks only needed 2 to win the game but BJ let it fly and when it landed it was NOTHING BUT NET!

The EISS exploded with joy.

There is little left to say except this.

In a game in February of 2012 between these two teams, there was almost a riot because of some terrible officiating. Unfortunately almost exactly the same thing happened in this game with, astonishingly, the same official.

This is simply not good enough.

Read the story of the Perfect Storm here

I love this game and I call on the authorities to do something about this.

Having pondered this over the last couple of days my suggestion is that we need to reinstate Commissioners, and give them the authority to manage the game properly and to report back if necessary.

There needs to be somebody with authority in charge of the game.

At present there is not.

Later

Mike S