Basketball: Dagostino breaks final points record to keep Cup in Sharks' grasp

Sheffield Sharks point-guard Steve Dagostino turned in a record-breaking performance yesterday as he led his team in retaining the BBL Cup with a 93-66 win over Mersey Tigers.

Dagostino broke the record for most points in a BBL Cup final with 35 and also scored the most three-point shots with eight successes from 10 attempts at the NIA in Birmingham.

It was a brilliant personal show by the American but it was part of a much greater team effort by a Sharks side which had been written off by many before the match.

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The Tigers lead the BBL Championship and have a roster packed with Great Britain internationals. However, the Sharks showed their true potential with a feisty defensive display, backed up with an efficiently run offence.

Dagostino, who was named the final's Most Valuable Player, said the team deserved the award.

"Everyone has been saying all week that we're the underdog but we felt that we're just as good a team as them. We wanted to prove that today," he said.

"Everybody did their part today. Marcus Stout did a good job guarding Andrew Sullivan; Mike Tuck did great off the bench and Olu Babalola got us going early in the second half. This MVP award is for everyone."

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Without the injured Nate Reinking the Tigers were lacklustre during an opening quarter that Sharks dominated. Back-to-back Dagostino threes and a Mike Tuck two made it 14-6 as Sharks took the first period 20-10.

Matters improved in the second quarter with 19-7 run giving the One Health sponsored-Sharks a 39-17 lead. Only David Aliu was causing Sheffield any problems but his basket to trim the gap back to 20 only incited Sharks to move 51-25 clear by half time.

Mersey tried to rally after the interval and a 7-0 run midway through the third quarter briefly gave them hope. A Dagostino steal from Lawson, layup and free throw stopped the rot and Sheffield carried a 74-46 advantage into the final stanza.

Any hopes of a dramatic Tigers comeback were ended when Dagostino made four consecutive three-pointers.

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