2:50pm Wednesday 3rd February 2010
MARSHALL MK Lions booked their BBL Trophy semi-final berth with an 85-71 home win against Worcester Wolves on the improvised court at Middleton Hall in the MK Shopping Centre.
The Lions used a balanced offence, which saw six players score double-figures, to ease away from Wolves after a tight opening quarter.
Worcester led 8-2 early in the match, with the first four points coming from forward Harry Disy and another two from a Danny Gilbert drive to the basket.
Wolves held a 12-7 lead on five minutes, before Frank Holmes provided the spark for Lions, who soon reversed the position. A 5-0 run from Kastytis Normantas restored parity at 19-19 on nine minutes and the first period closed at 20-20.
The Lions opened the second quarter with a 15-2 run and it seemed that all their shots were dropping and the visitors’ were not.
From mid-way in the period, Wolves recovered a little to end the half trailing 42-33.
Wolves played some of their best ball in the third quarter as threes by Rod Middleton and Kastytis Normantas drew them back to 47-43.
Lions responded with long-range efforts from Yorrick Williams and Dawud Morris to re-establish their advantage at 63-49 with 10 minutes remaining.
Gilbert landed a pair of maximums separated by a two-point score from Normantas to open the final stanza with an 8-0 run.
The Lions soon recovered their composure and a 12-point lead by mid-way through the quarter. Foul trouble for Disy and Devin Smith hampered any hopes of a Wolves comeback and further threes from Williams and EJ Harrison secured a comfortable victory for Lions with both teams playing their benches in the final minute.
Shooting guard Gilbert top-scored for the visitors with 21 points, along with six rebounds, from a mixture of long-range efforts and drives to the basket. He was backed by Middleton (11 points, five rebounds and five assists); Normantas (11 points) and Disy (10). The Lions’ Williams led all scorers with 18 points.
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