Hawks Fall Short vs Sharks

The West Yorkshire Hawks’ historic first playoff run came to an end on Saturday evening as they fell 69–58 to the Sheffield Sharks in a hard-fought quarter-final clash at the Canon Medical Arena.

Roared on by a passionate travelling support that turned the game into a home atmosphere, the Hawks gave everything—but a slow start ultimately proved costly.

The opening quarter saw the Hawks struggle to find their offensive rhythm, managing just 9 points, while the hosts capitalised to open up a 10-point lead.

The second quarter brought signs of life. Pushing the tempo and attacking the rim with aggression, the Hawks found success driving to the basket, carving out quick scores to close the gap. By the halftime break, the deficit had been reduced to 8 points, giving the Hawks renewed belief.

But the Sharks came out of the locker room with renewed defensive energy. They slowed the game down in the third and disrupted the Hawks’ momentum, maintaining their 8-point cushion heading into the final quarter.

In the fourth, the Hawks threw everything they had at the Sharks. Led by Charles Andrews (15 points), Harrison Wildie (14 points), and Rob Donaldson (11 points), the team clawed their way back into the contest—bringing it to a one-possession game and threatening to snatch victory. But the Sharks held firm, regaining composure in the final minutes and extending their lead to 11 by the final buzzer.

Head Coach Danny Byrne reflected on the defeat with pride and optimism, saying “It wasn’t the way we wanted to finish the season, but credit to Sharks—they did a good job today. Our slow start hurt us and we were fighting back from that for the rest of the game. However, it’s been an amazing season, and I’m already excited for next year.”

With the playoff journey now complete, the Hawks will take a well-earned break before turning their attention to preseason preparations for the 2025–26 campaign, which tips off in September.