Friday 27 February 2015 Worcester Wolves 87-65 Sheffield Sharks

Worcester Wolves provided the perfect response to last week’s disappointing defeat at Glasgow, by thumping Sheffield Sharks 87-65 on Friday to edge back into second place in the British Basketball League, behind leaders Newcastle Eagles.

Coach Paul James voiced his pleasure at the turnaround, saying: “We embarrassed ourselves last weekend: we didn’t play, we didn’t perform. We came back and training was really focused. We put in a few more offenses and they worked well this evening. We came together tonight as a team, moved the ball better and spread the points around. Anytime we do that, the results follow. I’m delighted.”

Sharks’ John Barber and Zach Gachette took the evening’s first five points, but from there the Wolves moved into gear, with Jamal Williams directing the traffic. After tallying five points of his own, Williams spotted Robert Thurman alone under the hoop, bulleting a pass for the centre to jam home. A moment later Dejan Radojevic was the man in the right place to receive another Williams assist.

As the second period began an irrepressible Williams now gifted Kalil Irving an easy conversion to move Wolves 23-16 ahead. At four minutes remaining in the first half the Worcester lead had built steadily to 35-26, with Sheffield frustration growing. Gachette bustled into Wolves’ captain Alex Owumi and subsequently allowed the ball to roll away into the empty part of the court. Petulantly ignoring the referee’s request to retrieve it, Gachette was whistled for a technical foul, in addition to his penalty for the initial offence.

Sharks would fail to score again from the field before the interval. In the meantime Wolves stepped on the gas with a double of three-pointers from Chavis Holmes, close-to-the-basket successes for Thurman and, fittingly, a triple for instigator Williams. A highly-satisfying 48-29 margin was taken into the locker rooms.

Sheffield could do little to pull back the deficit, still trailing 64-44 entering the final quarter. Ineffective on the inside, they would experience similar difficulties from the outside as enthusiastic Wolves’ defenders swarmed around them. Reserve guard Caylin Raftopolous bloomed in his increased minutes, joining in the presentation of gifts for Thurman and sinking a long-distance shot of his own as the victory was sealed.

By game’s end a spread of minutes across the squad saw Thurman and Holmes accumulate 22 points apiece, and Williams tally 16. Thurman also grabbed a huge 20 rebounds. Paul James applauded his players, enthusing: “Our fast start was very important. Holding Sharks to just 29 points in the first half was a phenomenal effort. It was just a matter of managing the game after that. We made them miss a lot of shots, and Robert hoovered up the rebounds. We got the win as a collective.”

After three weeks on the road, Wolves were welcomed back to the University of Worcester Arena by a near-capacity crowd, with tip-off delayed by ten minutes as more fans crammed inside. The club will return to the same venue for matches on consecutive Fridays, versus Plymouth, and then Durham. James praised the spectators’ support, adding: “There was a great crowd out there tonight. They really got behind us, especially considering last week’s disappointment. Their support gave us just the boost we needed, and we will look to repay them again in our next two games.”