Wolves hit by injury setbacks

11:29am Wednesday 9th April 2008

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WORCESTER Wolves' successful drive to secure a British Basketball League play-off spot has come at a heavy price with a string of injuries to key players.

The University of Worcester-based side travel to take on third-placed Guildford Heat to make their television debut at The Spectrum tonight (7.30) in a match that will be shown live on Setanta Sports One.

Wolves secured their place in the end-of-season play-offs with Friday's 97-75 victory at the Marshall MK Lions, but both sides will be looking to bounce back after disappointing defeats on Sunday.

While an injury-hit Wolves team lost 99-69 at home to Sheffield Sharks, Heat went down 108-101 in a thriller against Newcastle Eagles - a result that confirmed Eagles as BBL champions.

James Life (hand), Anthony Paez (ankle) and Chuck Evans (strained thigh) have all been receiving intensive treatment following injuries sustained during the last two matches.

Paez and Life went for X-rays to assess the damage and Evans, who played little part in the defeat against Sheffield, has been resting in the hope of some improvement.

All three injuries were sustained during the win against Milton Keynes, yet worsened in the game on Sunday. Wolves must now battle with Everton for seventh place or, in finishing eighth, will face a trip to newly-crowned league champions Newcastle in the first round of the play-offs.

The injuries to Life and Paez, the BBL's two top-scorers, have come as a big blow to head coach Skouson Harker.

He said: "We have the remainder of the regular season and the play-offs to consider and I will be taking advice from the excellent sports therapy team that we have within the club.

Heat won 108-89 at Worcester in Decem-ber and also beat them 81-75 in the BBL Trophy semi-final, but suffered a 112-105 home loss against them last month.