NBDL, Panthers 60-66 Sharks
Despite a much improved performance from the opening match of the season Panthers slipped to defeat again at the hands of Sheffield Hallam Sharks. Following the off season departures of Mud Alsketty, Phil Ainsworth and Matty Lindley, Coach Buitendam gave debuts to Grimsby duo Lewis Altoft and Phil Dempsey whilst Rohan Inniss returned after missing the previous game.
Panthers started brightly and led 6-0 after 4 minutes as they moved the ball well to find open shots for Eldar Biktagirov, Rohan Inniss and Sean Johnstone. Sharks responded with a 7-2 run of their own before an Inniss 3 pointer sandwiched by two baskets from Biktagirov saw Panthers maintain the advantage 14-11. The fluidity the offence started with went missing for the final 3 minutes and Sharks energy worked out a way to score against Panthers zone defence creating a 10-2 to give them the advantage at the break 16-21.
Eddy Brownell and Marko Backovic showed their BBL calibre at the start of the 2nd quarter as Sharks held Panthers scoreless for the first 3 minutes to establish a 12 point lead. Back to back scores from Mindy Razma and Inniss kick started Panthers offence as they traded baskets for the remainder of the period to trail 29-40.
Some inspired words at halftime from Buitendam saw Panthers roar out of the break, intense defence led to easy scores as Marcus Browne constantly found his teammates open by penetrating the Sharks collapsing defence to close the gap to 2 points. Sharks called timeout to disrupt Panthers momentum but by the midpoint in the quarter the home side had taken the lead on Razma’s 9th point, before Sharks composed themselves and reeled off 12 straight points to regain the lead 50-58.
Both defences were on top in the final quarter, however in the 5th minute Callum Mitchell recorded his first national league points and assisted a Biktagirov score to close the gap to 4 points. Following a solitary free throw for Sharks Sean Johnstone penetrated against his marker for a contested layup and reduced the lead further to 58-61. However with time running out Panthers were unable to breach Sharks defence again until a consolation basket following a steal from Browne on the buzzer closed out Panthers hopes of a win.
Eddy Brownell top scored for Sharks with a game high 19 points.
Mindy Razma led Panthers with 15 points and 5 rebounds, Eldar Biktagirov added 14 points on 88% shooting to go with 4 rebounds and 4 assists.
Scorers – Razma 15, Biktagirov 14, Inniss 12, Johnstone 7, Negleke 5, Browne 5, Mitchell 2
Despite a much improved performance from the opening match of the season Panthers slipped to defeat again at the hands of Sheffield Hallam Sharks. Following the off season departures of Mud Alsketty, Phil Ainsworth and Matty Lindley, Coach Buitendam gave debuts to Grimsby duo Lewis Altoft and Phil Dempsey whilst Rohan Inniss returned after missing the previous game.
Panthers started brightly and led 6-0 after 4 minutes as they moved the ball well to find open shots for Eldar Biktagirov, Rohan Inniss and Sean Johnstone. Sharks responded with a 7-2 run of their own before an Inniss 3 pointer sandwiched by two baskets from Biktagirov saw Panthers maintain the advantage 14-11. The fluidity the offence started with went missing for the final 3 minutes and Sharks energy worked out a way to score against Panthers zone defence creating a 10-2 to give them the advantage at the break 16-21.
Eddy Brownell and Marko Backovic showed their BBL calibre at the start of the 2nd quarter as Sharks held Panthers scoreless for the first 3 minutes to establish a 12 point lead. Back to back scores from Mindy Razma and Inniss kick started Panthers offence as they traded baskets for the remainder of the period to trail 29-40.
Some inspired words at halftime from Buitendam saw Panthers roar out of the break, intense defence led to easy scores as Marcus Browne constantly found his teammates open by penetrating the Sharks collapsing defence to close the gap to 2 points. Sharks called timeout to disrupt Panthers momentum but by the midpoint in the quarter the home side had taken the lead on Razma’s 9th point, before Sharks composed themselves and reeled off 12 straight points to regain the lead 50-58.
Both defences were on top in the final quarter, however in the 5th minute Callum Mitchell recorded his first national league points and assisted a Biktagirov score to close the gap to 4 points. Following a solitary free throw for Sharks Sean Johnstone penetrated against his marker for a contested layup and reduced the lead further to 58-61. However with time running out Panthers were unable to breach Sharks defence again until a consolation basket following a steal from Browne on the buzzer closed out Panthers hopes of a win.
Eddy Brownell top scored for Sharks with a game high 19 points.
Mindy Razma led Panthers with 15 points and 5 rebounds, Eldar Biktagirov added 14 points on 88% shooting to go with 4 rebounds and 4 assists.
Scorers – Razma 15, Biktagirov 14, Inniss 12, Johnstone 7, Negleke 5, Browne 5, Mitchell 2