QUOTES OF THE WEEK

“We are not concerned about playing there, in fact our best games have been played away from Worcester Arena so business as usual, just another game that we want to perform well in and win.

It’s going to be a fantastic atmosphere and occasion for the Wolves organisation that’s for sure”.

PAUL JAMES

WOLVES’ HEAD COACH

QUOTES OF THE WEEK

“Losing is never a fun experience in team sport and is something that can test you as a group to hang in there with each other.

“I feel playing on our home floor will give us a boost throughout the game as we have some great fans, but the game is played on the court so we have to take care of business there.”.

STERLING DAVIS

ROCKS’ HEAD COACH

A Malik Cooke two with 45 seconds to play to put the title destiny in ESH Group Eagles Newcastle hands with victory at Manchester Giants.

Manchester had edged in front on Stefan Gill’s three with 1.13 to play but Cooke’s basket ensured the visitors came out on top 83-82.

Cooke top scored with 23 points while Giants were led by 21 from James Jones.

Coupled with One Health Sharks Sheffield’s win at Worcester Wolves both Newcastle and Sheffield have the title in their own hands – the two meet next Friday in the north-east.

One Health Sharks produced a superb final quarter to beat Worcester Wolves 82-73.

Leading 62-61 the Sharks constantly built their advantage until it peaked at 82-68 with 90 seconds to play.

London Lions consolidated their fifth place position in the BBL Championship with a 102-78 victory over surrey United.

Chez Marks’ 20 points led the way as Lions built a big first half lead to keep United a bay. Nick Freer led the visitors with 20 points.

Leicester Riders star Drew Sullivan led by example, as the defending BBL champions effortlessly dismantled the still winless Birmingham Knights on the road, breaking away already in the first quarter and sailing to an easy win on Saturday evening.

Having built a large lead already in the opening frame, Riders registered a 104-52 victory to improve to a 20-8 record, while Knights dropped to a 0-29 mark.

Worcester Wolves have won BBL honours for the first time after lifting the BBL Trophy with an 83-76 defeat of Glasgow Rocks in a pulsating final in front of nearly 5,000 fans at the Emirates Arena.

Jamal Williams was named MVP after scoring 26 points, and inspiring the crucial run late on. Wolves had trailed for much of the game, but Williams hit a three-pointer to put them in front in the fourth quarter, and he then scored seven points in an 11-2 surge that gave his team a 75-68 lead that proved insurmountable.

The Wolves now return their attention to the BBL Championship title race, and Esh Group Eagles Newcastle took advantage of their rivals not playing by increasing their lead at the top of the table. Eagles won a tight North East derby 95-99 after seeing off a late Durham Wildcats comeback, Darius Defoe scoring crucial baskets on his way to 22 points and 8 rebounds.

Elsewhere, Leicester Riders made it four wins in a row as they beat Cheshire Phoenix 62-77, behind 17 points each from Anthony Downing and Jay Couisnard. Riders restricted Phoenix to just 48 points on this floor in October, and defence was the story again as they scored 29 points from the 19 turnovers that they forced, and led from the early stages after allowing their hosts just nine first quarter points.

Finally, the race for the BBL Championship Playoffs is wide open as Manchester Giants continued their charge and broke into the top eight with a 90-100 win over Surrey United. It was Manchester’s seventh win in ten games, with Stefan Gill scoring 24 points and dishing out 6 assists.