by Vlad Ionasc
Cheshire Phoenix will aim to put last night’s loss against Bristol behind them when they’ll host the Sheffield Sharks at the Cheshire Oaks Arena on the 2nd of February.
The Nix had to go through another exhilarating double-overtime game against the Flyers, however, this time they found themselves on the losing side after Bristol went on a late 6-0 run during the final minute of the game.
The Sharks have been inconsistent in the regular season, as they’ve failed to win back to back games so far. However, Atiba Lyons’ men will come into the building in good spirits following their 81-76 win over the Surrey Scorchers on Friday night.
The two sides split their series in the BBL Cup after they both managed to win on their home floor.
Last time out, Nick Lewis carried the load for the Sharks, as he tallied 19 points along with four assists in 33 minutes. He engaged in an exciting one-on-one battle with Ben Mockford in the third quarter. The two guards entertained the crowd with back and forth three-point baskets. Connor Cashaw leads the Sharks in scoring, with 17 points-per-game but coach Lyons will have plenty of firepower at his disposal, as Lewis, Bennett Koch, and Mackey McKnight are all hovering around the 13 points-per-game mark.
The Nix will have to forget about the loss away to Bristol and shift their focus solely on the Sheffield game. They will be met by a tough team that would’ve been happy to see last night’s game go into double-OT. It will be critical for the Nix to obtain the win against their opponents, as they’ll need the feel-good factor in the week leading up to the first leg of the Trophy Semi-Final against the Newcastle Eagles. Cheshire forced the Sharks into 14 turnovers in their last meeting, they’ll need to replicate the feat on Sunday night. Parker Jackson-Cartwright put up a near triple-double as he tallied 13 points, 10 rebounds, and nine assists. Cheshire’s point-guard will have to be at his best again, as he’ll battle against McKnight.
The Nix have been playing really well for a while now so they’ll need to keep up the intensity despite the quick turnaround because they’ve proven time and time again that when they’re locked in and focused on their goal, they can hold their own against any team in the BBL.
BRING THE NOISE! GO PHOENIX!