Friday 22 February 2013 Worcester Wolves 99-81 Surrey Heat

Worcester Wolves made it five wins in a row when they defeated Surrey Heat 99-81 at the University of Worcester on Friday. The Wolves’ current unbeaten run stretches back to the last time they met the Heat, a game that was lost after overtime. However on this occasion there was no question of a close contest as the home side raced to a 31-17 first quarter lead and kept their opponents at arm’s length throughout the evening.

Ex-Worcester forward Sam Cricelli opened the night’s scoring with a close-range shot but this was to be the only time that the Heat were in front. Lithuanian centre Arturas Masiulis got off to his usual fast start with four points and blocked a shot attempt from his opposite number Frank Holmes. Three successive long-distance baskets from the hosts took the score from 15-12 to 24-15, prompting a Surrey timeout after seven minutes had elapsed..

The break in play did nothing to slow Wolves’ momentum as forward Kai Williams took the last five points of the period to accumulate an electrifying 13 personal points, including a triple of three-pointers. A double of shot attempts from Heat guard Chavis Holmes were imperiously swatted away by Masiulis who delighted in wagging a finger as Holmes fell to the floor. When Williams floated home his fourth and fifth triples, exasperated Heat coach Creon Raftopoulos was once more requesting a halt to proceedings with his side trailing 46-28. An incandescent Raftopoulos could even be heard above the music coming from the sports hall sound-system as he raged at his players.

A 50-33 half-time lead was quickly added to by a basket from Stan Ocitti and a rare four-point play by guard Alex Owumi who sank a triple and also converted the resultant bonus free throw awarded for a clumsy foul by Heat’s veteran forward Julius Joseph.

There was a glimmer of a Surrey fight back when a score from Cricelli ended a 9-0 run for his side that left them at 56-42 by midway through the third quarter. But the resistance was soon quelled by a deuce of three-pointers from Ocitti, helping the Wolves to restore a healthy 76-57 advantage entering the last period of play.

The final ten minutes of the night began with Worcester captain Carlos Fernandez stealing the ball from Cricelli and floating a long pass to Kalil Irving for a powerful two-handed dunk. Fernandez then took a neat assist from Masiulis for a basket of his own. By the time Masiulis had registered his seventh blocked shot, and Fernandez had once more combined with Irving for another slam through the hoop, the match was well and truly decided. For the last few minutes Wolves‘ coach Paul James took the luxury of resting his starters ahead of Sunday’s trip to Durham Wildcats.

James was not too surprised to finally beat a Surrey team that had twice overcome the Wolves this season, saying: “We have been playing really well of late. This was the first time against the Heat that we have been focussed for the full 40 minutes, and it paid off.”

Owumi, Ocitti and Masiulis all registered double-doubles of points and rebounds and James was keen to praise their efforts, commenting: “We knew that the Heat are not prolific shooters from the outside so that if we limited their play close to the basket, and took the rebounds, we would have the edge. All three of those guys were tremendous in that respect.”
Looking ahead to the match up with Durham on Sunday, James added: “It will be a tough game. Unlike the Heat, Durham have a number of players who can shoot well from distance so we will need to be ready to play.”

Williams led the Wolves’ scoring with 24 points, including six three-pointers. Owumi and Ocitti both hit 16 points and grabbed ten rebounds apiece. Masiulis tallied 11 points, 12 rebounds and seven blocks. Cricelli top-scored for Surrey with 22 points.
After Sunday’s game the Wolves will take on the in-form Leicester Riders over two games in the BBL Trophy semi-final. Supporters are advised to secure their admittance to next Friday’s home leg by purchasing advance tickets from the Wolves office on 01905 542251.