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Sharks edge Sturgeons to maintain winning form
By Alex Linder |
January 30, 2012, Monday
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Print Edition
Print Edition
THE Shanghai Sharks kicked started the Year of the Dragon in top form yesterday, surviving a desperate comeback attempt from the dangerous Fujian Sturgeons for a crucial 94-90 win.
The Sharks held the lead the entire game, but it never felt secure and Fujian's final rally almost put the visitors on top. With under three minutes left in a tense game Fujian's Anthony Roberson squared up and knocked down a three, and then, next time down, knocked down another, and then brought the lead to just one with a putback.
But with each basket Shanghai responded with a big shot - Liu Wei from three, and then Mike Harris from three and finally Marcus Landry knocked down a three-pointer to give Shanghai a four-point cushion.
With ten seconds left Liu Ziqui secured the victory as he broke his man down off the dribble and finished with a finger roll to send the home crowd into a frenzy.
Roberson led Fujian with a thrilling 39 points, but Shanghai countered with five players in double figures led by Mike Harris and Liu Wei both with 20 points.
"This was a very big win for us tonight, and we are fortunate to have won it," said a very relieved Shanghai head coach Daniel Panaggio.
The victory puts Shanghai at 14-11 and in good position for what promises to be a tight playoff race in the coming weeks. The Sharks offense didn't look rusty from the long holiday break as they came out hitting 11 of 18 shots in the first quarter for a 24-16 lead. Marcus Landry electrified the crowd with a come-from-behind block, taking away a sure layup and leading to a fastbreak slam of his own.
Roberson tried to get his team back in the game in the second hitting from long and converting on the break to bring the Shanghai lead down to just four points. But Shanghai finished strong behind the direction of Liu and a thunderous Harris dunk secured a 14 point margin going into the locker room.
Shanghai had limited Fujian's leading scorer Will McDonald to just two points in the first half, but the burly big-man played more aggressive in the third quarter bullying his way in for 8 points. With Roberson dropping another 13 points in the quarter Shanghai's lead was quickly vanishing but its offense kept up and it still held a double-digit lead going into the final quarter.
Former Shark Zaid Abbas had a strong game with 17 points and 16 rebounds helping Fujian to grab 17 more rebounds than Shanghai. McDonald finished with 17 points and 11 rebounds.
Shanghai center Zhang Zhaoxu did hold his own, especially on the defensive end, finishing with 10 points, seven rebounds and four blocks. Wang Yong knocked down 4 three-pointers for 15 points and Landry had 13 points and 8 rebounds.
The Sharks go on a two-game road trip starting with Xinjiang, another playoff contender, on Wednesday.
The Sharks held the lead the entire game, but it never felt secure and Fujian's final rally almost put the visitors on top. With under three minutes left in a tense game Fujian's Anthony Roberson squared up and knocked down a three, and then, next time down, knocked down another, and then brought the lead to just one with a putback.
But with each basket Shanghai responded with a big shot - Liu Wei from three, and then Mike Harris from three and finally Marcus Landry knocked down a three-pointer to give Shanghai a four-point cushion.
With ten seconds left Liu Ziqui secured the victory as he broke his man down off the dribble and finished with a finger roll to send the home crowd into a frenzy.
Roberson led Fujian with a thrilling 39 points, but Shanghai countered with five players in double figures led by Mike Harris and Liu Wei both with 20 points.
"This was a very big win for us tonight, and we are fortunate to have won it," said a very relieved Shanghai head coach Daniel Panaggio.
The victory puts Shanghai at 14-11 and in good position for what promises to be a tight playoff race in the coming weeks. The Sharks offense didn't look rusty from the long holiday break as they came out hitting 11 of 18 shots in the first quarter for a 24-16 lead. Marcus Landry electrified the crowd with a come-from-behind block, taking away a sure layup and leading to a fastbreak slam of his own.
Roberson tried to get his team back in the game in the second hitting from long and converting on the break to bring the Shanghai lead down to just four points. But Shanghai finished strong behind the direction of Liu and a thunderous Harris dunk secured a 14 point margin going into the locker room.
Shanghai had limited Fujian's leading scorer Will McDonald to just two points in the first half, but the burly big-man played more aggressive in the third quarter bullying his way in for 8 points. With Roberson dropping another 13 points in the quarter Shanghai's lead was quickly vanishing but its offense kept up and it still held a double-digit lead going into the final quarter.
Former Shark Zaid Abbas had a strong game with 17 points and 16 rebounds helping Fujian to grab 17 more rebounds than Shanghai. McDonald finished with 17 points and 11 rebounds.
Shanghai center Zhang Zhaoxu did hold his own, especially on the defensive end, finishing with 10 points, seven rebounds and four blocks. Wang Yong knocked down 4 three-pointers for 15 points and Landry had 13 points and 8 rebounds.
The Sharks go on a two-game road trip starting with Xinjiang, another playoff contender, on Wednesday.
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