Worcester Wolves Leading The way

A 10-0 run from the Wolves to start the fourth quarter saw a close game turn in the visitor’s favour and the Riders could get no closer than four points in the final minutes as they lost at home in the Championship for the first time in 20 months.

Alex Owumi led the Wolves with 20 points and Zaire Taylor had 19 against his former team, who were led by Anthony Downing’s 14 points.

Having already played Leicester twice this season, Wolves’ coach Paul James knew it was going to be a close game.

“Both teams know each other pretty much inside out now and in the two previous games, there really wasn’t much between us,” he said.

“It was one of those games again where either team could have won it and it just so happens that we played better than them in the fourth.”

After seeing his Wolves knocked off top spot a week ago following two straight defeats, James is happy his team are getting back on track.

“We lost the two games because we didn’t play team basketball, we played selfish basketball,” said James.

“Hopefully that’s done and dusted now, we can move forward and if we are to lose games, we lose playing as a team.”

The recent good run by One Health Sharks Sheffield came to an abrupt halt when they ran into a red-hot London Lions in Friday’s BBL TV game.

Sharks had won their previous five Championship games but were outplayed most of the game as London cruised to a 78-55 win, behind Rod Brown’s 18 points.

Esh Group Eagles Newcastle remain with the leading teams after romping to a 103-51 victory over Manchester Giants on Friday, thanks in part to 21 points from Scott Martin.

The defeat didn’t affect Manchester too much as they bounced back to beat Surrey United 102-60, on Sunday.

Stefan Gill and David Aliu once again led the way with 27 and 26 points respectively, as Giants won their third straight home game.

Plymouth University Raiders kept up pressure on the top five thanks to Sunday’s 119-72 win over Birmingham Knights, Donald Robinson leading the Devon side with 27 points.

Ralph Bucci had a game to remember on Saturday, finishing just shy of a triple double as his Durham Wildcats enjoyed an 85-72 win over Glasgow Rocks. Bucci had 15 points, 10 assists and nine rebounds, while the Rocks were led by 25 points from Daniel Northern.

Durham couldn’t make it a weekend to remember as they fell to a 75-68 defeat at Cheshire Phoenix on Sunday. Cheshire’s Reggie Middleton and Victor Moses had 22 points apiece as the Phoenix held off a late charge from Durham.

In the BBL Cup, Esh Group Eagles Newcastle are the third team to book their place in the semi-finals after their 81-69 win at Glasgow Rocks on Sunday.

Led by a game-high 27 points from Malik Cooke, the Eagles broke open a close game in the second half and will face either Sheffield or Durham in the next round.

Story – BBL