Glasgow Rocks season of extremities came to an unappetising conclusion yesterday as Sheffield Sharks nudged the Scots out of the BBL Playoffs at the end of a dramatic second leg of their semi-final. Ultimately, and frustratingly, Sterling Davis men won the battle but lost the war despite a monumental scrap at The EIS that almost delivered the miracle comeback they craved.
Trailing by 11 after Friday’s lethargic showing at the Emirates Arena, an energised Glasgow had precisely wiped out the deficit with three minutes left. However, with nerves frazzled, their hosts staggered over the line, closing with a 10-2 run that ensured they advanced to meet Leicester Riders in next Sunday’s final at London’s 02 Arena with a 159-153 aggregate victory despite a 73-68 defeat on the night.
“Going 26 down at one point in the first leg was really what lost us the game,” Rocks guard Jonny Bunyan said. “After that point, we played so much better but we couldn’t quite do enough in the second leg. But it was a strange game. We led for most of the time by five or six but it was only in the fourth quarter that we got up to the 11=point lead we needed.
“We really were thinking: ‘we can do this now.’ But a couple of rebounds they got and a couple of turnovers we made and it all crept away. It could sum up our season. We came close but we couldn’t quite finish it off.”
At least Glasgow’s current squad left a positive impression as they scatter for the summer by showing a determination so frequently absent 48 hours before. Warren Gillis, who had a game-high 25 points, orchestrated a revival that built on the momentum the Rocks gained during a priceless rally in the initial leg.
Up 35-30 at half-time, Bunyan’s three-pointer capped a 12-4 run that took his side to the magic margin required to level the tie with five minutes remaining and the Scot was again on target to put the visitors 71-60 ahead and within reach of an astonishing turnaround. However the final 33 seconds - and the closing two scores - belonged to Sheffield as Glasgow’s wait for silverware was extended into a 14th season.
Treble-chasing Leicester lost 92-84 to Cheshire Phoenix last night but had the buffer of a huge 99-55 cushion from Saturday's first leg as they progressed with a 183-147 aggregate win.
RESULTS
BBL Playoffs, semi-finals 2nd leg. Sheffield Sharks 68 Glasgow Rocks 73 (Sheffield win 159-153 on aggregate, Leicester Riders 84 Cheshire Phoenix 92 (Leicester win 183-147).
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