Sheffield Sharks triumph in The Basketball Tournament (TBT) debut. (With a little help from the Surrey 89ers)

With ice flowing through his veins, Sheffield Sharks’ adopted superstar, Mervin James, sank a stunning step-back two-point attempt to help the British side claim a 64-70 victory over DaGuys STL.

The Surrey 89ers menace was in sensational form as the Sharks made history as the first professional British team to feature in TBT – racking up 20 points in 26 minutes on the floor while finishing seven of his 16 field goal attempts.

James may claim a vast majority of the plaudits due to the manner he finished the game, but there was another Super League Basketball (SLB) star who helped put the British game on the map with his own incredible performance.

Prentiss Nixon – a player who does ply his trade in Sheffield – scored a game-high 24 points and oozed class to showcase his ability to be the offensive talisman of any roster he features on. Not only this, but he was awarded the Most Valuable Player award for his heroics.

89ers’ fanbase will waste no time in reminding that another player who was based in Surrey throughout the 24/25 campaign was an integral cog in the fluid Sharks system during the late hours of Saturday evening, as Jalen Ray sank 14 points with his aggressive performance.

Despite an excruciatingly painful first quarter from the SLB side – in which they found themselves trailing 20-7 – Sheffield discovered an enthralling rhythm to spark their second quarter into life and dominated proceedings from this point forward to take the matchup to overtime.

To win the game, one team had to reach 70 points to claim victory. The current SLB Cup holders took no prisoners as they raced to the required tally to secure their place in the Round of 32.

Next up for the Sheffield Sharks is a matchup against Heartfire – the 2023 TBT champions.

This will undoubtedly be an arduous test for head coach Atiba Lyon’s men, but with the explosive Donovan Clay yet to register more than two minutes on the court, the team still has another gear to shift into.

The fixture will take place on Monday, July 21. Tipoff at 7 pm EST (midnight for the British public).

 

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