Sheffield Sharks: BBL Cup offers extra incentive for Atiba Lyons and Sharks

Sheffield Sharks can take a huge step towards the knockout stages of the BBL Cup this weekend when they face two games in three days.
FOCUSSED: .Sheffield Sharks coach Atiba Lyons  Picture: Bruce RollinsonFOCUSSED: .Sheffield Sharks coach Atiba Lyons  Picture: Bruce Rollinson
FOCUSSED: .Sheffield Sharks coach Atiba Lyons Picture: Bruce Rollinson

Atiba Lyons’s side welcome Manchester Giants to Ponds Forge tonight (7.30pm) before heading to Cheshire Phoenix on Sunday (5.30pm).

They will be particularly keen to avenge a surprise opening-night defeat by the Phoenix two weeks ago.

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Sharks bounced back from that loss with road wins at Glasgow Rocks and Newcastle Eagles to get their campaign up and running.

To beat the Giants – who have Sharks’ former player Callum Jones on their roster again – Sheffield will hope to have American Jonathan Williams firing once again.

Williams missed just two shots in the win at Newcastle last Friday, including shooting a perfect seven from seven on the inside, on his way to 23 points, with six rebounds and four assists.

Williams’ tally included a decisive three inside the last five minutes that overturned a deficit and gave Sheffield the lead for good.

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Lyons said of a guard with experience of playing in America, Poland and Belgium: “Jonathan is a versatile combo guard with a great resume in European basketball.

“He is a scorer with the ability to provide for his team-mates.

“He is a great system player but also has the ability to create for himself. I always felt he would be able to step in right away and contribute.”

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