Worcester Wolves 79-94 London Lions

Worcester Wolves were unable to turn back the attacks of London Lions, the runaway leaders of the British Basketball League, at the University of Worcester Arena on Friday.

A barren second quarter where only one Worcester player, returning Spanish forward Alex Navajas, was able to connect from the field saw the hosts looking up at  a 32-54 half-time deficit. A more-productive second half reduced the arrears for a 79-94 final outcome.

Within moments of the opening tip off Miki Servera floated home a three-pointer. Two further scores from Servera and a triple from Darell Combs kept Wolves in contention at 13-15 six minutes into the evening.

But from here Worcester’s offenses now faltered. Time and again shots rolled around the rim and out leading to just three first-half successes from two-point range out of nineteen attempts.

London’s British guard combo of Justin Robinson and Jordan Spencer repeatedly wove their way forward to score or set up points for dangerous American Ladarius Tabb.

Student athlete Daniel Johnson-Thompson briefly excited home supporters by dancing to a nifty spinaround basket and ending the third quarter with a powerful put-back dunk.

Lions entered the final period with a dominant 79-53 advantage but had to concede the remainder of the game to their hosts. Lester Prosper outpaced his defender close to the hoop and other Worcester men finally found their aim from the outside.

Servera led the Wolves’ scorers with 14 points, closely followed by Adam Thoseby with 13. Combs, Prosper and Navajas each tallied 11 points.

Interim coach Dean Blake was blunt in his assessment of the defeat, saying: “We have to play for all four quarters and give intensity from the opening tip to the final buzzer. We have to find a way to execute our offenses and get the ball in the hoop.”

Wolves travel to the capital’s other BBL team, London City Royals, this Sunday 20 January (5.00).

After nearly a fortnight’s break Wolves will return to the University of Worcester Arena on Friday 01 February (7.30) to take on Newcastle Eagles. Tickets are available here.