Plymouth Raiders 87-65 Worcester Wolves

After successfully holding their hosts scoreless for the first five minutes of the game, the Worcester Wolves suffered a breakdown in the last ten minutes of play to eventually lose 87-65 at Plymouth Raiders on Sunday afternoon.

Six points from Wolves’ seven-foot centre Arturas Masiulis, accompanied by triples from forwards Stan Ocitti and Arnas Kazlauskas, gave the visitors a healthy 12-0 opening. When Raiders brought their own seven-footer Liam Potter on to the court they answered back with a 10-2 run of their own.

With a couple of minutes remaining in the first quarter there was another new entrant to the court, but this one much more notable: the much-awaited season debut of Wolves’ point guard Sherrad Prezzie-Blue. Having only just arrived in the country it can perhaps be excused that he then missed both free throws he was awarded following a foul by Plymouth’s Michael Ojo.

A basket from Raiders’ Matt Schneck began the second period, taking the scores to 12-18. A couple of scores from Masiulis sandwiched another from Schneck, putting matters at 14-22 with three minutes gone. Prezzie-Blue’s first assist of the season then led to an Ocitti triple and a moment later his first rebound of the year preceded a powerful dunk from Ocitti. This left the sides at 16-27 by midway through the period.

It was at just over a minute to go till half-time when Prezzie-Blue hit the first shot of what Worcester fans hope will be many, taking his team to 27-34. Within a further minute he had scored again to leave the Wolves with a slender 33-36 advantage.

By the time three minutes of the second half had elapsed the match was even at 39-39. Shortly afterwards the Raiders took their first lead of the game at 42-41 following a three-pointer from American forward Javarris Barnett. A nip and tuck contest ensued for the rest of a third quarter that closed at 56-55 in favour of Plymouth, after an Ojo score from distance.

Ojo added to his points tally as the last period began and quickly saw his team mate, Irishman Colin O’Reilly, increase the Raiders’ lead. Worcester coach Paul James looked to calm matters with a timeout but could do nothing to prevent a 13-7 run for the Raiders before he was forced to again call a halt to proceedings.

At 62-74 with four minutes remaining there was still a chance for the visitors to come back. However, a solitary basket from Masiulis was the only reply to a further onslaught from Plymouth on the way to the Wolves’ final 87-65 surrender.

Masiulis was the top-scorer for the Wolves with 18 points, followed by Ocitti with 16 points. Barnett and Ojo led the Raiders scorers with 24 and 23 points respectively.
Wolves will now await the visit of the reigning BBL champions, the Newcastle Eagles, to the University of Worcester this Saturday (tip off 7pm).