Playoff Push at Wolves

Worcester Wolves’ Director of Basketball Paul James has hailed his team’s efforts in taking fifth place in the British Basketball League and is now calling on the Worcester public to help achieve success in the post-season play-offs.

Demolitions of both Leicester Riders and Plymouth Raiders over the weekend have served to bolster Wolves’ confidence ahead of what is likely to be a challenging home-and-away tie against fourth-placed Surrey Heat this Saturday and Sunday. James is pleased that his side is building momentum at the right point of the year, saying: “Like most of the teams in the BBL this season, we’ve had some ups and downs, but I’m delighted that for the second successive year we’ve achieved a solid league placing. We did the job we had to do against Leicester last Friday, and then came out to destroy Plymouth on their own court. We’re hitting our stride at just the right time.”

“Surrey will be a tough series. We lost two close games with them earlier in the season, but then beat them convincingly in February. As I’ve said all year, our fans can be the difference-maker. We’re now nearing the end of our stay at the University sports hall, with the move to the new arena on the horizon. I want our supporters to give us that extra push on Saturday, before we move on to even bigger things in the future.”

Mick Donovan, co-founder of the Wolves, is keen to support James’ comments, saying: “We have enjoyed some fantastic nights of basketball in the University Sports Centre and, emphatically, the Wolves fans have made it a special place to play and have never let the team down. This may well be the last game for the Wolves in the only home we have known.

“If we go through there is a possibility that we could host the semi-final in the Arena. That decision will coincide with the outcome of the play-off against Surrey.”

The club has also announced that their end-of-season awards will be presented after Saturday’s game, with all spectators welcome to stay on to attend the ceremony. Clare Jenkins, Wolves’ Marketing Officer stated that this will be an opportunity for fans to show their appreciation of the players’ efforts throughout the season, saying: “This will be a chance for supporters to give recognition to the players for their perfomances this year. Fans can go on to our Facebook page to vote for their favourites. Everyone is welcome to come along to see the awards being presented.”

Saturday’s first-leg tie will tip-off at 7pm, with tickets available at the door. The away leg takes place at Surrey Sports Park in Guildford, the next day (tip off 3pm).

The other playoff quarter-final ties will be between Leicester Riders and London Lions, Newcastle Eagles against Sheffield Sharks, and Glasgow Rocks versus Plymouth Raiders. The semi-finalists will then again compete in home and away ties, the following week, for the prize of a place in the Playoff Final at Wembley Arena on Sunday 28 April.