logo
Sheffield Sharks beat Surrey 89ers to claim cup

Sheffield Sharks beat Surrey 89ers to claim cup

Yahoo10-03-2025

Sheffield Sharks won the Super League Basketball Cup final with a 105-97 win over Surrey 89ers.
American guard Donovan Clay was named most valuable player after scoring 23 points as the Sharks came back from trailing 51-49 at half-time at Nottingham's Motorpoint Arena.
The success gives the club their first trophy since the BBL play-off title in 2016.
"It feels great, it's been a hell of a journey back to this kind of situation," head coach Atiba Lyons told BBC Radio Sheffield.
"We've been close and had great teams in the past but not got over the line. This team has a resilience and grit that's been amazing.
"We've got a good blend of some mature players, experience and good voices in the locker room and talented guys who make shots. They're a unit."
The Sharks are in second place in the Super League, eight points behind leaders London Lions but with four games in hand.
Lyons, who has been in charge since 2008, said attention would quickly return to the league campaign as they look to add the Championship and play-off silverware.
"We've got to stay alive in the league and it's a dogfight right now at the top," he added.
"I'm focused on the next game. I can't think dynasty until I look back and see what I have done."
Oaklands Wolves beat the Sheffield Hatters 65-51 in the women's SLB Cup final for their first trophy.
Celebrations on court from Sheffield Sharks Cup Final win

Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

Valkyries' Kayla Thornton caps off New York return with long-awaited 2024 championship ring
Valkyries' Kayla Thornton caps off New York return with long-awaited 2024 championship ring

Yahoo

timean hour ago

  • Yahoo

Valkyries' Kayla Thornton caps off New York return with long-awaited 2024 championship ring

The post Valkyries' Kayla Thornton caps off New York return with long-awaited 2024 championship ring appeared first on ClutchPoints. While there weren't many positives for the Golden State Valkyries in their 95-67 loss to the New York Liberty, there was one feel-good moment: Kayla Thornton's return to the Barclays Center. Thornton's reception back in New York was fit for a WNBA champion. Advertisement Right before tip-off, Thornton's former Liberty teammates welcomed her at halfcourt and bestowed her with her well-deserved, hard-earned championship ring. It was an emotional moment for Thornton, her Liberty teammates, and the entire arena. Before the game, Thornton talked with CBS News's Matt Lively about the emotions of her homecoming return. 'It's been a lot of emotions. Of course, happy emotions, but it's good to be back. Just heartwarming feelings. Being in this arena brings back so many memories, especially since winning the championship, so I'm just glad to be back,' Thornton reflected. Those emotions go beyond basketball. Thornton's day before the actual game was full of hugs and reunions. She spent a lot of time pre-game talking to old coaches, old teammates, and others involved with the Liberty organization. In the same interview with Lively, Thornton was honest about how she felt seeing her former companions. Advertisement 'It was good. I tried to hold my emotions because I've been kind of crying this whole time since I've gotten to New York,' Thornton said. 'But seeing [my former teammates] just broke something. I'm just happy to see them. Outside of basketball, they're special people, and they have a place in my heart, so that will never change.' Wendell Cruz-Imagn Images Thornton on East Coast vs. West Coast What has changed for Thornton since joining the Valkyries is her role. With New York, Thornton was the team's defensive sparkplug off the bench. But with Golden State, on a team assembled entirely through the expansion draft, her new team is asking her to do a little bit more. Advertisement Post-game, head coach Natalie Nakase talked a little bit about how the coaching staff is pushing for Thornton to shoot more 3s. The Valkyries are relying on Thornton's offense much more than Liberty was because of Golden State's shooting disparity. But at her core, Thornton's still the glue for her team's chemistry and teamwork, as stated by head coach Natalie Nakase after the game. 'What I've noticed is she loves to build really tight-knit relationships with every single person,' Nakase revealed. 'She does a great job, even if it's not even practice, she'll go out of her way off the court and build relationships. That's to me, she's becoming our glue person. I haven't really told her that, but I could just sense it. Every player on our team, when she's around, they're like, 'Where's KT? Where's KT?'' With Golden State, many outside of the team view the Valkyries as a place where Thornton can elevate and become a No. 1 option. But, as she stated in her post-game press conference, Thornton doesn't view the opportunity on the Valkyries in those simple terms. 'I'm very grateful for the opportunity. But I kind of don't look at it like that. I feel like I'm the same player that I was in New York,' Thornton said when asked about the different role she's playing on the Valkyries compared to the Liberty. 'I bring the same energy and stuff. Yeah, I might have to score a little more, but I still do the small things, I don't change who I am.' Wendell Cruz-Imagn Images A thank you to Liberty Fans After a long day of reunions and emotional moments, Thornton took the time to thank the Liberty fanbase for a warm homecoming in her post-game press conference. Advertisement 'I don't even want to get emotional again, but they are amazing. I know I'm on a new team, and my Golden State fans are great too. But New York fans will always have a special place in my heart,' Thornton said on the verge of tears. 'Y'all made me feel like I was back in New York playing for New York. I'm just so appreciative of that, and I'm blessed that I had that type of fanbase, even though I was on the other side, that still supports me. I don't take that stuff for granted, and I've always cherished that. Just know you guys will be forgotten.' While the Valkyries couldn't come up with a win for Thornton, she'll leave this game with lifelong memories of how the fans celebrated her.

Buoyant Wakefield snap Warriors' winning streak
Buoyant Wakefield snap Warriors' winning streak

Yahoo

time3 hours ago

  • Yahoo

Buoyant Wakefield snap Warriors' winning streak

Winger Tom Johnstone (right) scored the third Wakefield Trinity try against Wigan Warriors [ Betfred Super League Wakefield Trinity (10) 16 Tries: Faatili, Griffin, Johnstone Goals: Jowitt 2 Wigan Warriors (0) 10 Tries: Keighran, Field Goals: Keighran Wigan Warriors squandered their chance to close the gap on Super League leaders Hull KR as they were stunned by an impressive Wakefield Trinity at Belle Vue. Trinity weathered an early spell of pressure before opening up a 10-point lead at half-time through tries by Caius Faatili and Josh Griffin. Advertisement The sluggish Warriors failed to find their rhythm and, although Adam Keighran reduced the deficit to four points early in the second half, Trinity cemented their advantage with another score from Tom Johnstone. Wigan eventually pulled back a late try through Jai Field, but it was not enough for them to stave off a third defeat of the campaign. The result lifted Daryl Powell's side into the top half of the table and ended second-placed Wigan's nine-match winning run. Heading into the game on the back of successive defeats, Trinity were immediately under pressure from the champions and spent most of the opening 15 minutes penned back near their goalline. Advertisement But the home side held firm, repelling Junior Nsemba's dive for the line before maximising their first genuine attack of the evening as Harvey Smith set up Faatili to spin his man and power over. Josh Griffin (second from right) scored just before half-time to extend Wakefield's lead [ That score injected confidence into the Wakefield ranks, with Johnstone denied at the last by Liam Farrell, and Mason Lino's crafty kicking helping to trigger a series of defensive errors from the Warriors. It was Lino's boot that enabled Trinity to extend their advantage before the interval as the scrum-half's kick split the Wigan line and Griffin eagerly gobbled up the opportunity, with Max Jowitt adding the extras to make it 10-0. Advertisement Wigan responded straight after the turnaround, winning two early penalties before Bevan French set up Keighran to gallop through on the right and dive across, and he followed it up with a successful conversion. However, a mistake by Nsemba shortly afterwards gifted Trinity another set of tackles, and Jake Trueman's looping pass teed up winger Johnstone to score in the corner and restore his side's 10-point lead. Jowitt, who had missed a routine conversion earlier in the game, was off target again with a penalty kick after Wigan were penalised for obstruction. But it made no difference to the outcome as the Warriors - who had overturned a half-time deficit to triumph at Huddersfield last weekend - found the recovery job beyond them on this occasion. Advertisement Full-back Field narrowed the scoreline with seconds remaining after he collected Harry Smith's chip and raced away to cross the whitewash, but it was no more than a consolation for the champions. Wakefield Trinity: Jowitt, Walmsley, Hall, Pratt, Johnstone, Trueman, Lino, Cozza, Smith, Faatili, Nikotemo, Griffin, Pitts. Interchanges: Scott, Hood, Vagana, Croft. Wigan Warriors: Field, Eckersley, Keighran, Wardle, Marshall, French, Smith, Byrne, O'Neill, Thompson, Nsemba, Farrell, Ellis. Interchanges: Havard, Mago, Leeming, Dupree. Referee: Aaron Moore.

Oklahoma Sooners predicted to land commitment from 2026 4-Star QB Bowe Bentley
Oklahoma Sooners predicted to land commitment from 2026 4-Star QB Bowe Bentley

USA Today

time3 hours ago

  • USA Today

Oklahoma Sooners predicted to land commitment from 2026 4-Star QB Bowe Bentley

Oklahoma insider @Josh_Scoop has logged an expert prediction for the Sooners to land elite QB Bowe Bentley⭕️Bentley ranks No. 41 NATL. (No. 5 QB) in the 2026 The Oklahoma Sooners quarterback situation in the 2026 recruiting class is beginning to gain some clarity. On Thursday night four-star quarterback Jaden O'Neal decommitted from the Sooners. And now, the Sooners have apparently taken the lead for four-star quarterback Bowe Bentley. Without a commitment date in sight, the Sooners are battling with Brian Kelly and the LSU Tigers for one of the fastest-rising players in the 2026 cycle. Josh McCuistion, who covers recruiting for SoonerScoop and On3 (subscription required), issued a prediction favoring the Oklahoma Sooners ahead of this weekend's ChampU BBQ. It's the first prediction logged from any site for Bentley, who saw his recruitment take off after participating in the Navy All-American game in January. He has 20 Power Four offers, most of which came in the last six months. Bentley had a phenomenal junior season for Celina, throwing for 47 touchdowns to just seven interceptions. He also rushed for 16 touchdowns in an undefeated, state championship season. Oklahoma offered Bentley on January 24 and have made him a priority over the last six months. He's drawn comparisons to new Oklahoma quarterback John Mateer, and there's a lot to like about his dual-threat game. If the Sooners can lock up a commitment from the talented prospect out of Texas, they'll get one of the more prolific quarterbacks in the cycle. Bowe Bentley Recruiting Profile Bowe Bentley (@bowebentley) is one of the top QBs in the country, leading @RecruitCelinaFB to title No. 9 last season. Will the Bobcats be gracing the gatefold cover this year?We'll be revealing the 2025 gatefold cover of Dave Campbell's Texas Football LIVE on Texas Football… Vitals Ratings Offers Per 247Sports Social Media 🙏🏼 Contact/Follow us @SoonersWire on X, and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Oklahoma news, notes, and opinions. You can also follow John on X @john9williams.

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into a world of global content with local flavor? Download Daily8 app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store