Worcester Wolves 96, Cheshire Jets 91

7:32pm Sunday 13th April 2008

WORCESTER Wolves kept alive their hopes of a seventh placed finish in the British Basketball League with a hard-fought home win over Cheshire Jets.

The Wolves started the game without the influential point guard Chuck Evans, yet James Life returned to action, although there was still some bruising around his injured hand. Anthony Paez also declared himself fully fit following the problems with an ankle injury.

In the first quarter, Paez confirmed his return to fitness with a great demonstration of offensive pay that included a breathtaking alley oop after a great assist by Life.

A 21-11 lead at the end of the quarter, however, was trimmed to 25-18 by the end of the first ten minutes.

Obazuaye was proving to be the main threat for the Jets, who wouldn't lay down though and runs of 6-0 and 5-0 contributed to a 43-46 half-time advantage.

Skouson Harker and Shaun Durant were taking some key rebounds for the Wolves yet at one stage the hosts seemed more intent on scoring than blocking the visitors.

Encouragingly for the Wolves, Michael Gayle, who had to take a lead role in the absence of Evans, was controlling the play in an assertive manner.

The lead continued to change hands several times during a hectic third quarter.

Life and Paez connected for one of many more alley-oops as the home side forged 65-61 ahead.

The enigmatic Life was slowly returning to form following his lay-off and was creating several ways to score although still being clearly hampered by his hand injury.

Wolves were well in the ascendancy in the final stanza at 89-78 before a Jets 9-0 burst made it interesting.

In the final two minutes, with only two points separating the teams, both sides were guilty of missing open shots as the pressure appeared to be playing a part.

Harker then made a crucial three-pointer to give the Wolves the edge and Gayle and Harker made telling free throws to extend the home sides advantage before Harker's men pulled away to the victory.

A seventh place finish was boosted yesterday after Everton fell to a defeat to Guildford Heat.