Surrey Scorchers continue their pre-season preparations on Sunday, as last season’s BBL Play-Off semi-finalists, B. Braun Sheffield Sharks, visit the Sports Park Arena for a 3pm tip-off.
Tickets are just £5 for adults and £2.50 for concessions, and can be purchased here.
Sharks Coach Atiba Jones has secured the return of three key players for 2019-20, in 2014 BBL Trophy winner Nick Lewis, American point guard Mackey McKnight, and Yorkshireman Robert Marsden. They are joined by new signings Bouna N’diaye, from Glasgow Rocks, and two Americans, centre Bennett Koch and guard Connor Cashaw.
Captain Mike Tuck, of course, remains at the heart of the franchise, as he embarks upon his 11thyear at the Sharks, with Marko Backovic and Sedale Hanson-Young also remaining from last season’s Play-Off campaign.
“It will be a good test for us, to see exactly where we are,” suggested Scorchers Coach, Creon Raftopoulos. “There’s more to come, but I’m pretty happy with where we are – I think we’re ahead of where we were last year.
“Sharks will be a great test, in who they’ve brought in, and we look forward to that. We need to go out there and show what we’re capable of.”
Skyler White, who impressed on his Scorchers debut with 17 points and six rebounds against Cal Poly Mustangs on Tuesday night, is also happy with their early pre-season progress. “I felt like it was a good start (for me). It felt good, everything seemed to fall into place,” he admits. “It wasn’t like playing with new guys. The team have gelled really quickly on the court – better than almost all of the teams that I’ve been a part of. It feels really natural. It’s interesting to watch and fun to be a part of.”
Scorchers then start the season in earnest as they travel to Bristol Flyers on Friday 20 September, in their first BBL Cup group stage tie, before returning to the Sports Park Arena on Saturday 28 September to host Worcester Wolves.
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