Wolves Looking to Bounce Back from Cup Upset

Worcester Wolves will be itching to bounce back from last week’s shock British Basketball League (BBL) Cup exit as they return to league action on Friday.

They face a difficult test though, against a new-look London Lions side featuring the likes of Great Britain captain Drew Sullivan, Lovell Cook, and last year’s BBL Most Valued Player, Zaire Taylor, who played a key role in Worcester’s historic trophy successes last year.

Wolves head coach, Paul James, acknowledges that his side will be in for a tough test, and believes that Taylor will be out to prove a point against his former side.

“It’s going to be a tough game,” he says. “Zaire’s going to be back in the house and he’s going to want to prove what we’ve lost. Hopefully we’ll have a game plan that will negate that and we’ll come out with a win.

“Every game he plays, he is out there to make a point and prove that he is the best out there so I wouldn’t expect anything different from him.

“He did that for us immensely well all last season and I expect him to do that for London this season.”

Taylor bagged 21 points in the Lions 87-71 midweek victory over the Cheshire Phoenix, but James is keen to focus on the collective threat that London pose.

“It’s a tough proposition but, more importantly, we need to try and concentrate on what we do and doing things better than we have been doing of late,” he adds.

“London have some very talented, athletic players and I think they are going to be one of those teams who are right up there, challenging, at the end of the season.”

A win for Wolves could see them rise to second place in the league table.