Worcester Wolves 82-66 Manchester Magic

Saturday 11th April 2026

By Colin Taylor

Worcester Wolves are through to the National Basketball League Playoff Final, the biggest game for the club in the last four years.

Saturday’s 82-66 semi-final success over Manchester Magic sets up a showpiece match against top-seeded Solent Kestrels at the prestigious National Basketball Performance Centre in Manchester on Sunday 26 April.

However, Wolves’ ticket to the final was only confirmed in the last few minutes.

A back-and-forth contest saw multiple lead changes. Manchester clung to a 63-62 edge with five minutes to play before Worcester put forward a blistering 19-4 end to the game.

“I’m so proud of the guys. It’s been such a long road but it’s what we’ve worked for all season and now we’ve made it through,” exclaimed winning coach Dean Blake.

“Manchester didn’t make it easy for us. Aaron Bile is so good, Jack Walton is so good and their coach Joshua Perkins is so good.

“But we had our goals today, and we met our goals. Our target was to keep them under seventy points and that’s what we did.”

Star forward Earl Burgess led the way for Wolves with a thumping 26 points and 13 rebounds double-double display, but Blake was delighted that he was able to garner contributions from across his roster.

“In my view, Earl is the most valuable player of the whole league – he’s certainly been our MVP, so consistent and so reliable on and off the floor for us.

“But on a different day anyone can step up. For instance, last time out Emmanuel Yeboah had a sensational match and then today Fin Rennie came in with a burst of aggression that helped turn the game.

“We’ve got a deep squad and I’m thrilled that I was able to get everyone on the floor to enjoy playing in front of our fans here in Worcester for the last time this season.”

Two minutes into the match Manchester floor-leader Walton nailed a three to nudge his team in front before an immediate Georgios Stergiopoulos reply reversed the lead.

Burgess got down to work close to the hoop to aid a 17-16 home edge heading into the second quarter.

Frontcourt partner Humberto Ferreira flexed his muscles after a strong layup and Yeboah came to the fore with similarly powerful attacks.

By midway through the period Magic moved 31-30 ahead on the back of another Walton triple.

However, Burgess now showed off his blossoming outside arsenal with a double of threes to accompany his traditional inside offense, enabling a 43-38 half-time advantage.

A Ferreira spin and an industrious Wilfrid Santhe dribble to set up Burgess kept Wolves 56-54 to the good at the close of the third quarter.

Walton’s fifth success from distance once more switched the lead and a Bile basket stretched it.

A failed attempt to prevent Burgess scoring led to two points and a bonus free-throw that broke a 65-65 tie and finally put Worcester on their path to victory.

One-way traffic ensued for the remaining four minutes of the evening. Ferreira and Daijaun Antonio joined the three-point party, Santhe put points on the scoresheet to sit alongside his bagful of assists and Yeboah and Burgess took turns in tormenting their defenders.

Yeboah and Ferreira notched 16 and 15 points respectively while teenager Walton dominated Manchester’s output with 24 points.

Blake paid tribute to his side’s fourteen-game unbeaten season in front of big crowds at the University of Worcester Arena and issued a rallying-call for fans to continue their support by making the trip to the Playoff Final.

“To win every one of our matches in Worcester this year has been a great achievement,” said Blake.

“Solent have a hell of a team. There’s a lot of work for us to do over the next fortnight to prepare for them, but I believe in our players.

“We have to make Manchester our home venue on 26 April. We definitely need as many fans as possible to travel up to support us – they’ve been with us all season and we now want them there to bring us over the line just one more time.

“We will leave everything on the floor in Manchester.”