City of Birmingham Rockets 66-57 Worcester Wolves

Saturday 19th November 2022

By Colin Taylor

Worcester Wolves had to settle for second-best in their top-of-the-table clash at City of Birmingham Rockets on Saturday.

Birmingham’s 66-57 victory leaves them with a perfect eight-game record in National Basketball League Division Two while Worcester now stand with a couple of defeats from their seven outings.

Ian Vivero-Rodriguez contributed an early five points to an 11-11 tie six minutes into the contest.

Wolves hit seven points without reply as the end of the first quarter approached but went into the break 19-18 behind after falling victim to successive three-pointers from former Worcester guard Nathan Ramsdale-Owen and his backcourt partner Karl Teesdale.

Rockets threatened to pull away at 33-26 three minutes ahead of half-time before Aryan Davoodi and Wilfrid Santhe both fired from distance to bring the sides level.

Newcomer Humberto Ferreira converted a simple layup under the basket to debut on the scoresheet and restrict Birmingham to a slender 36-35 lead as the second half began.

Ferereira stayed in the thick of the action by outhustling defenders to grab three offensive rebounds in almost as many seconds and set up Matei Balteanu’s eventual basket.

However, Birmingham were able to pounce upon an accumulation of repeated careless ball-handling by their visitors to move 51-43 ahead entering the final quarter.

Balteanu continued to toil close to the hoop but with scant scoring support and little lessening of their turnovers Worcester could not prevent defeat.

Balteanu posted 17 points to go alongside nine rebounds. Vivero-Rodriguez and Santhe notched 12 and 10 points respectively.

Friday 2 December (7.30pm) will see Wolves return home when they welcome Charnwood Riders to the University of Worcester Arena.