Wednesday 12 March 2014 BBL Trophy Semi-Final Second Leg

Worcester Wolves 84-70 Sheffield Sharks – Wolves win on aggregate 146-130

Worcester Wolves have achieved a historic milestone for the club by winning through to their first-ever major final since stepping up to the British Basketball League in 2006. An 84-70 triumph in the second-leg of their BBL Trophy semi-final against Sheffield Sharks sees them progress to the competition final at Glasgow’s Commonwealth Arena on Sunday 30 March.

Just as in last Friday’s first leg in Sheffield, the Wolves raced into a large lead, only to see their opponents peg them back towards the end of the game. However, on this occasion Worcester were able to produce a resurgence of scoring to eventually pull clear, resulting in joyous celebrations for a near full-house at the University of Worcester Arena on Wednesday.

Before tip-off Wolves’ Paul James was presented with the Molten BBL Coach of the Month Award for February from the Mayor of Worcester, Pat Agar. Wolves’ stalwarts, centre Will Creekmore and point guard Zaire Taylor, came out of the blocks determined to set aside the disappointment of being held scoreless for the final quarter of last week’s encounter, and eager to put on a show for the visiting dignitary. With a couple of minutes remaining in the opening period they had already tallied 15 points between them, helping their team to a healthy 20-12 advantage.

Sharks’ BJ Holmes floated in a three-pointer towards the close of the initial ten minutes, but Taylor immediately did likewise to re-assert control. Worcester captain Alex Owumi was another player keen to atone for a quiet first-leg performance, choosing the second period to show his mettle. After laying on a pass for Jamal Williams to convert, he then accepted a similar gift from his team-mate to move his personal scoring into double figures, and to maximise his side’s lead at 46-26 with a minute and a half until the interval.

However, a loose ending to the half saw Holmes hit five consecutive points and Sheffield forward Olu Babalola make his first basket from the field, lessening the deficit to 46-34.

Babalola was the first person to trouble the scoreboard as the teams exited the locker rooms, while his forward partner Mike Tuck also notched four quick points. Wolves’ reserve forward Daniel Belgrave revelled in being given a chance to impress, dropping successive long-range bombs to restore calm at 58-47 with four minutes left in the third quarter. Young English guard Zach Gachette closed the quarter’s scoring to bring matters tighter at 62-56

As the final period began an errant pass from Williams was pounced upon by Tuck. As he set off with the ball he was impeded by Taylor who was adjudged by the referees to have committed an unsportsmanlike foul. Tuck duly converted both of the resultant foul shots and further capitalised by scoring on his team’s next possession to edge the evening worryingly close at 62-60.

With six minutes to go, the crowd noise had become muted with the match tied at 66-66. By a few minutes later the volume had been turned right back up in admiration of a fine spell of play from Taylor. He bookended baskets from Creekmore and Owumi, helping Wolves accelerate ahead to 75-68. In the closing ticks of the contest, as Sheffield desperately fouled to slow the clock, he was also impeccable from the free throw line, sinking six of six attempts.

The icing on the party cake was provided by Creekmore when he cheekily hurled up a long distance side-armed shot which fell through the hoop as the full-time hooter sounded, signalling the start of wild celebrations amongst players and spectators.

Paul James emerged from underneath a bouncing huddle of his charges to declare his delight at seeing Worcester finally make the breakthrough to a competition final, saying: “Again we were 20 points up, and again Sheffield came right back at us. But we had plenty left in the tank. There was no way we were going to lose this game tonight. I’m delighted we’ve now made it to a final, and we’re looking to have a great day out.”

Taylor led the Wolves’ scorers with 30 points, followed by Owumi and Creekmore with 18 and 16 points respectively. Holmes top-scored for Sheffield with 18 points. Wolves now take a break from action until Friday 21 March when they will welcome Plymouth Raiders to the University of Worcester Arena.