Worcester Wolves 83-53 Birmingham Mets

Saturday 26 February 2022

A rampaging first-half performance set up Worcester Wolves for a comfortable 83-53 victory over Birmingham Mets at the University of Worcester Arena on Saturday.

With just three games left in the regular-season Wolves’ twelfth win leaves them clear at the top of the Midlands Division of the National Basketball League and puts them in line for a high seeding in the end-of-year playoffs.

Tom Grayling was the man with the hot hand as the evening began taking all six of the opening points. Drew Clark bounced in from the bench to immediately connect and then lay on another Grayling basket.

Racing 23-4 ahead going into the second quarter, Worcester only increased the torment as Ian Vivero-Rodriguez took advantage of a Lucas McGregor double-block.

Time and again Birmingham attacks were turned back and with David Lauzzana contributing a quick seven points towards an overpowering 43-16 half-time score-line the match looked to have already been decided.

When play resumed McGregor assisted a Matei Balteanu score before driving along the base-line for a stunning two-handed throw down.

But there would be just a couple of more goals from the field for the hosts over the remainder of the third period. A trio of Mets’ three-pointers in a two-minute spell put matters at 47-25 and cautioned against any Worcester complacency.

As Birmingham’s belief continued the gap between the sides contracted all the way back to 58-45 as the fourth quarter began.

Consecutive McGregor triples got Wolves back on track and the same player’s length-of-the-court pass for Lauzzana to convert quelled the visitors’ comeback.

A burst of outside accuracy from Lauzzana and Vivero-Rodriguez confirmed the win.

McGregor led all scorers with 22 points, followed by 17 for Lauzzana. Vivero-Rodriguez and Balteanu supplied 14 and 13 points respectively.

“It’s great to get another win on the board but we have to be concerned about allowing Birmingham back into the game after half-time,” remarked Coach Dean Blake. “Yes we won, but we need to aim for forty-minute performances.”

Wolves will be on the road next Sunday 06 March (6pm) with a re-arranged fixture at Nottingham Hoods.