Friday 15 February 2013 – Worcester Wolves vs Mersey Tigers

Worcester Wolves play the first part of their weekend doubleheader this Friday evening when they face struggling Mersey Tigers at the University of Worcester (tip off 7.30pm). 

Wolves sit in sixth spot in the BBL Championship with an 11-9 record while the Tigers remain winless after 22 games.

Paul James’ Wolves side have enjoyed comfortable wins in both of their games against the Tigers this season, winning 98-48 at home in mid-October and repeating the trick a fortnight later with an 86-54 road win.

Despite Tigers’ poor season, Wolves’ coach James won’t be taking the Mersey team lightly: “We don’t believe we are that good a team where we don’t have to prepare for some teams. We are totally focused as a group and understand that we must try and be better today than we were yesterday..

“The Tigers have made some changes to personnel since we last played them earlier in the season and they continue to play hard in search of their first win this season. Gael Hulsen, Joshua Lockett and new addition Phillip Wait have all played well in recent weeks.

“Last time we played Tigers, first and foremost we showed them the same respect that we show any other team. We will do our homework, prepare well and be focused on the job in hand.”

Wolves upset the formbook last Friday to knock holders Newcastle Eagles out of the BBL Trophy on their own court, and James was clearly a happy man after the game: “We played well against the Eagles. We needed to try and stay with them and match their effort in every area and we did this very well. Alex Owumi was clearly the best player on the court in this game, but his team mates did a great job in support and executing the game plan, especially defensively.”

Tigers’ coach Tony Walsh knows the size of the task facing his team on Friday evening: “The Wolves have come together playing some excellent basketball, just at the right time and last Friday night showed that the hard work Paul James has put into his team has paid off with an against-the-odds win over Newcastle.

“To win against such a good team in form at their own home court, we must bring the game to them. All the experience we have learnt since our first game against the Wolves must be employed to have any hope in beating such a strong team. Gael Hulsen and Martin Calvo must show the form that has been exciting crowds over the past few games, but critical to this game will be the performances of Phil Wait and Josh Lockett. The battle of the boards will determine who can come out of the wolf pack as winners.”

Tigers’ centre Chris Bigley expects a different look from Worcester this time: “I expect Wolves to have a different dynamic than the last time we played them. They’ve acquired a quality forward in Kai Williams, a guy with a lot of basketball IQ, who can take you inside and out when the times right. He’s the kind of player you see go for a quiet 20 points, and he’ll make the extra pass in an offence and not force anything up to get his stat-line. Couple that in with the firepower of Alex Owumi and Stanley Ocitti, and the solidity of Arnas and Arturas (two players I really rate highly) and you’ve got a fair bit to worry about.”

Spectators arriving for Friday’s game will be able to take advantage of a special double-header discount price of £15 to also watch Saturday’s game against London Lions, instead of the usual entry fee of £13 for a single game.

Saturday 16 February 2013 – Worcester Wolves vs London Lions

Worcester Wolves will follow up Friday’s visit of Mersey Tigers with what they will expect to be a tougher task when they take on the Sheffield Sharks at the University of Worcester on Saturday (tip off 7pm). 

Before this week’s games the Wolves lie in sixth place in the BBL Championship table with an 11-9 record, while the Lions are one place behind with nine wins from their 24 games.

The first meeting between the teams this season really was a game of two halves as Lions overcame a poor first half to run out 94-76 winners, so Wolves will now look to level the head-to-head series.

Wolves’ coach Paul James knows his side faces a tough test on Saturday: “The Lions have a very talented and athletic team, with several players who have the ability to be game-winners on their day. Clearly they have talent in Tayo Ogedengbe, Orlan Jackman and Mike Martin, but they also have other players who have had big games for them.”

Lions’ coach Vince Macaulay believes that Wolves’ win at Newcastle could prove to be the launch-pad for a good run: “The Wolves have been on the bubble all season, it has seemed that they have been just about to explode, but then with one thing and another they haven’t, up until they have suddenly made the Trophy semi-finals and now maybe they can achieve their promise.

“Alex Owumi has been a constant for them all season and the twin bigs of Arnas Kazlauskas and Arturas Masiulis have been terrific for them.

“We struggled early on against them when we last met, but once we started to compete on the boards the game changed. We will need to get on that glass right from the get go because this game will be decided there and will be a hugely physical affair.”