Sunday 24 February 2013 Durham Wildcats 79-83 Worcester Wolves

Worcester Wolves made it a double-winning weekend when following up Friday’s victory over the Surrey Heat with a hard-fought 83-79 triumph at Durham Wildcats on Sunday. This latest win makes it six in a row for the Wolves during February, moves them up to fifth place in the British Basketball League, and leaves them brimming with confidence ahead of next weekend’s BBL Trophy semi-final showdown against top-of-the-table Leicester Riders.

Wolves’ guard Alex Owumi hit successive baskets to move his side to a 9-6 advantage after four minutes of play, but then watched the Wildcats take the next nine points for what would be their largest lead of the contest. Power forward Stan Ocitti made a couple of free throws and then rose up to block a shot attempt by Wildcats’ Mike Baldarelli. Ocitti’s pass to Carlos Fernandez helped Wolves edge to a 19-17 first quarter advantage.

Durham’s bustling American centre Andrew Keister began the second period scoring, before Fernandez sank a three-pointer. Baldarelli hit a three of his own, only to see Owumi do likewise. Tit-for-tat scoring continued throughout the first half, with Worcester maintaining a slender 40-39 lead by the interval…<!–more–>

From the restart the Wildcats’ re-took the lead with a score from young English guard Samuel Johnson. Baldarelli then stole the ball from Owumi only to see it snatched right back and converted by a determined Fernandez. Owumi nabbed the next score, but Baldarelli was on the mark again to tie the game at 44-44.

At midway through the period the sides were still level at 51-51. Two points from Ocitti were followed by a triple from small forward Kai Williams. Keister then slotted home the last of Durham’s third quarter points before a burst of action from Fernandez helped the visitors to establish some daylight. After nailing a long-distance basket, Fernandez swatted away a Baldarelli lay-up and aided centre Arturas Masiulis to register only his second score of the afternoon to put his team 63-53 to the good.
Wildcats’ coach Dave Elderkin saw his son Paul sink a three to begin the last quarter, before Masiulis responded. A series of errant shots from both teams left matters at 70-61 to the Wolves by the point that Elderkin called a time out with four minutes remaining. Baskets from Baldarelli and Johnson helped narrow the gap to 72-68 over the next two minutes, ensuring a nervy finale to the game.

With just 37 seconds to go a couple of Baldarelli free throws had pulled the Wildcats back to within a single score at 78-75, and it was now the turn of Wolves’ coach Paul James to call a time out. Owumi inbounded the ball to Worcester veteran Arnas Kazlauskas, who coolly floated it home from outside the scoring arc, finally breaking the back of the Durham resistance.
James was relieved to eventually see off the challenge of plucky opponents, saying: “Durham’s position in the league does not reflect their ability. This was a hard-fought game throughout. Both teams moved the ball well, but we picked up our defence in the second half to get the point where Arnas hit a big three to finally put us over the hump.”

Referring to Sunday also being Carlos Fernandez’s 26th birthday, James praised his captain’s performance, commenting: “This was a great birthday present for Carlos. He had a fabulous game. He played the full 40 minutes and took care of the ball for us.”

Owumi led the Worcester scorers with 24 points. Ocitti and Williams were next highest scorers with 18 and 16 points respectively. Birthday-boy Fernandez registered powerful all-round statistics of 14 points, ten rebounds and seven assists. Baldarelli top-scored for Durham with 23 points.

Next up for the Wolves will be the two-legged BBL Trophy semi-final against Leicester Riders. Leicester are also currently riding high after completing their own unbeaten run during the month of February with a 76-72 win at Glasgow Rocks on Sunday. Supporters are advised to secure their admittance to this Friday’s home leg at the University of Worcester (tip off 7.30pm) by purchasing advance tickets from the Wolves office on 01905 542251.