BBL Trophy Semi-Final First Leg: Sheffield Sharks 60-62 Worcester Wolves

Worcester Wolves hold a slender two-point advantage over One Health Sharks Sheffield in the battle to decide which club progresses to the BBL Trophy Final to be held in Glasgow at the end of this month.

In Friday’s first leg semi-final at Sheffield, the Wolves raced into a 20-point first half lead, and still sat on a double-digit cushion in the closing minutes of the game. However, a barren final quarter that produced only a single score for the visitors saw Sheffield climb back into contention to end the evening just 62-60 in arrears.

Wolves’ centre Will Creekmore began the scoring, and settled into what would be a night-long tussle around the basket with Sharks’ big men Patrick Horstmann and Mike Tuck. Point guard Zaire Taylor tallied Worcester’s next four points and similarly set off on his own duel with his opposite number at the Sharks, BJ Holmes.

After six minutes had been played and with his side ahead 11-6, Wolves’ coach Paul James was about to send forward Stefan Djukic into the fray to replace Jamal Williams before rescinding his decision after  Williams opened his scoring account. Younger brother Kai ignited a flurry of three-pointers to close the first quarter, with Holmes and Tuck replying for Sheffield and Alex Owumi on target for Wolves.

Horstmann was first off the mark in the second quarter, reducing the Worcester lead to 21-15, before a stunning 18-4 tear placed Wolves firmly in the box seat. Eight points from Taylor were accompanied by nine points from the Williams brothers as their team eased to a comfortable 43-25 interval lead.

The warning signs of a Sheffield comeback were apparent at the game’s re-start. A triple from Holmes was followed by a confident dance to the basket by young English guard Zach Gachette. When Tuck handed the ball to Horstmann for the German forward to jam it through the hoop, the contest was back on.

By midway through the period the Sharks’ arrears approached single digits at 50-38, before a double of Creekmore scores helped steady the ship at 59-42 in the last minute of the period. It was from here where the tables were turned, with the Wolves’ offence stagnating and the Sharks’ confidence soaring.

Djukic was forced to foul Horstmann as he trundled forwards, and then had to watch the resultant free throws converted. Gachette blocked a Taylor shot attempt and delivered a pass for Holmes to lay in. Holmes swished home a three-pointer as the last quarter commenced, and the evening now stood at 59-49.

Kai Williams looked to have restored calm when he floated in a long-distance shot, but this was to be his side’s final points, despite over eight minutes still remaining. Holmes was on the mark again to bring matters to 62-51, a score that would stand until there was four minutes left on the clock.

Holmes assisted Tuck to break the drought, and then similarly assisted Horstmann. A couple of Taylor free throws went badly astray and the same man saw his next shot attempt blocked before Horstmann once more slammed home a score.

There were now a couple of minutes left in the evening, with matters poised at 62-58. Frustration grew throughout the last quarter for the Wolves as they saw continued drives to the basket by Taylor rejected, and saw Creekmore fighting tiredness as he battled to break through the Sheffield wall around their basket. Creekmore’s annoyance could no longer be contained when he voiced his anger to the referees, was penalised with a technical foul, gifting his opponents a couple of free throws which Holmes duly converted to close the night.

While disappointed that a big lead had been lost, Paul James was still upbeat about having an edge ahead of the return-leg, saying: “Yes the advantage could have been bigger, but it could also have been less. We had a good first half, moving the ball well, but in the second-half we were static, took some ill-advised shots, allowing Sheffield to come back. They still have to come to our place behind, so I’m confident we can get the job done.”

Taylor led the Wolves’ scorers with 18 points, followed by Creekmore with 14 points. Horstmann and Holmes top-scored for Sheffield, with 17 and 15 points respectively. The second and deciding leg of the tie will take place at the University of Worcester Arena on Wednesday, (tip off 7.30pm).