The Super League Basketball season is four weekends old but Sheffield Sharks have been stuck in neutral.
This was just their second game of the new campaign after a blank opening weekend and a venue issue that prevented them playing at Surrey 89ers last week.
The truncated start has allowed them to get healthy at least, with summer recruits Donovan Clay and Dan Gherezger both benefitting from not missing too much game time as they came back from pre-season injuries.
But any chance of building momentum or an identity on the court as we head into mid-October has been stalled, meaning this game with their long-established rivals Leicester Riders was never going to be conclusive about just what a new-look Sheffield side would look like in 2026-27.
The early portents though are encouraging, as they built on an opening win over Caledonia Gladiators with a 85-75 triumph that keeps a Leicester side also still finding their feet, winless after their four games.
Sheffield started fast with a 30-point first quarter, and when Leicester fought back to knot the scores at the end of the season, Atiba Lyons’ side stepped on the gas, captain Fahro Alihodzic and Clay putting in formidable performances under the glass that points to a team that will try to dominate on the boards.
“That’s the plan, they play well off one another,” said head coach Lyons.
“They’re very physical, when we were in that hole a little bit we rebounded well, got some second-chance points, but as a team we’re still getting our shape, still getting our rhythm.
“The extended break has helped in getting players back but if we win has worked; if we lost, it hasn’t.
“I think we’re into the season now, the guys were itching to play a game and it’s a good start.”
Sheffield were getting scoring from all over the court in a free-flowing opening 10 minutes in which they scored 30 points to Leicester’s 22.
Clay was back and asking questions under the basket, while Dan Gherezger also came in for his debut and showed some neat touches, particularly from behind the arc.
When Adrian Delph sunk a long-range three-pointer and Maceo Jack stole the ball after an attack broke down, feeding Fahro Alihodzic for a simple lay-up under the basket, Sharks led 39-25.
But Leicester then put an 11-0 run together that brought them right back into it, only a Gherezger three from the right wing breaking the run as Sharks went in 43-41 at the break.
A deep three from William Lee gave Sheffield a bit of breathing space but Leicester moved into their first lead of the game at 2.59 left in the third quarter with two free throws from Taryn Todd.
It would be their only lead as it jolted Sheffield back into life, scoring 12 of the next 16 points either side of the end of the third quarter, Alihodzic and Clay again immovable under the hoop and Lu’Cye Patterson with a 16-foot floater to restore a six-point lead.
Not even a Alihodzic technical foul that gifted Leicester a free throw could stymie the growing momentum as the hosts went straight back up the other end with Clay and Alihodzic again dominant off the glass and Adrian Delph scoring a fast-break two-pointer.
Sharks led by 10 points at one stage in the third before giving Leicester hope that Lyons’ side comfortably snuffed out.
Alihodzic finished with 25 points, Patterson 20, Clay 10.