Worcester Wolves had to pull out all the stops to extend their undefeated National Basketball League record to nine matches at title-rivals Team Wolverhampton on Sunday.
A back-and-forth encounter saw Wolverhampton 52-46 in front with six minutes remaining before Worcester drew a defensive line in the sand to deny their opponent’s attacks and, at the same time, found their feet at the opposite basket for an eventual 57-54 comeback victory.
Coach Dean Blake credited his players for their resilience, saying: “It wasn’t pretty but we were relentless and refused to give up.
“It was our first match of the new year which meant we lacked game-sharpness, making us a little tentative and often meaning we struggled for rhythm.
“But we’ve built up a winning habit in Worcester which was perhaps just enough to give us an edge and allowed our guys to pull through for the win.”
Wilfrid Santhe ran to the hoop before kicking the ball back outside for an open Lucas McGregor to commence the afternoon’s scoring.
A 13-11 lead was overturned in the last few seconds of the first quarter by a Wolverhampton three-pointer. More points for the hosts and forcing a backcourt violation extended their advantage to 18-13 by early in the second period.
Austin Payne and Ian Vivero-Rodriguez both scored following steals to switch momentum back to the visitors and restrict Wolverhampton to a 30-29 half-time edge.
By the end of a typically-tight third quarter Wolves had nudged 46-45 ahead.
Already missing injured forward Matei Balteanu, Worcester’s big man resources were further diminished when Shaun Parren-Rackley hobbled off court.
Seven unanswered Wolverhampton points had a sizeable home crowd roaring and Blake requesting a calming time out to consider his team’s options.
The interruption in play had the required effect with a Vivero-Rodriguez spin the first action of a thrilling fightback.
A McGregor solo drive and more output from Vivero-Rodriguez now put Wolves 54-52 in front with three minutes to go.
A minute later McGregor fully silenced Wolverhampton supporters when he banked the ball in off the backboard from distance.
Worcester were able to survive a scrappy end to the contest with Tom Grayling earning the applause of his team mates after a ferocious rejection in the last half-minute and a huddle of players banding together in the dying seconds to block another attack.
McGregor led the scoring with 22 points, followed by 15 points from Vivero-Rodriguez.
Wolves meet title-challenging Wolverhampton again next Saturday 22 January (7pm) in the final match of a tripleheader of action at the University of Worcester Arena.
At 1pm Worcester Wolves begin their participation in the very-first female professional para-sport league in the UK, hosting Loughborough Lightning in the British Wheelchair Basketball Women’s Premier League.
Following that, at 4pm, Wolves Women take on Reading Rockets in National Basketball League Division One.
“It’s a great honour for the club and the community that Worcester is hosting the first professional women’s wheelchair basketball game,” added Blake.
“We then have the match at 4 o’clock and, of course, we go again against Wolverhampton to end the programme, so I hope fans can turn out in big numbers to support the day.
“I’m really pleased with what the team has achieved so far in staying unbeaten and that there’s now pressure on our opponents to try to close the gap beneath us that we’ve created.”
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