BBL Playoff Semi-Final First Leg: Sheffield Sharks 59-79 Worcester

A superb shooting display has put Worcester Wolves on the brink of a trip to Wembley for the British Basketball League’s showpiece Playoff Final, in just over a week’s time.

A couple of months ago Wolves travelled to Sheffield Sharks in the BBL Trophy first leg semi-final and despite at one juncture holding a twenty-point lead, allowed their hosts to reduce the arrears to just a couple of points by the end of the evening. On Friday the eventual Trophy winners again built up a substantial buffer, but, on this occasion, firmly denied the Sharks any opportunity of a similar comeback.

The undoubted star of the show was club captain Alex Owumi who managed to connect on seven of his eleven long-distance shot attempts, on his way to contributing 28 points towards his side’s mightily-impressive 79-59 triumph.

An Owumi triple at the close of the opening quarter put Wolves in front at 26-16, a cushion that had been maintained by half-time when Owumi again floated in a shot from outside the arc just as the period expired, bringing matters to 43-34.

By the end of the third quarter the visitor’s advantage had bumped out to 60-44, and continued to rise during the match’s final ten minutes.

As the game clock ticked down, Owumi further demoralised his opponents when nailing his last three-pointer, before Zach Gachette did likewise for Sheffield and point guard BJ Holmes slotted home two free throws.

Zaire Taylor was Wolves’ next-highest scorer with 21 points. Holmes was Sheffield’s only double-digit scorer, with 15 points.

The second and deciding leg of the tie will take place at the University of Worcester Arena this Sunday, (tip off 6.30pm). The victors will take their place at Wembley Arena on Sunday 11 May, where they will meet the winners of the other semi-final, Newcastle Eagles or Leicester Riders.