Wolves face crucial double-header (From Worcester News)

Wolves face crucial double-header

9:00am Saturday 6th March 2010 in

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WORCESTER Wolves are facing a make-or-break weekend in their bid to reach the British Basketball League play-offs.

The University of Worcester-based side head south to tackle Plymouth Raiders tonight (7.30pm) before returning home to face Everton Tigers tomorrow (6.30pm).

Head coach Paul James saw his side fall to a narrow defeat at Worthing Thunder last Saturday, but that loss has left his Wolves team eight points adrift of the top-eight.

The former Guildford Heat boss knows his side can afford no more slip-ups if they are to extend their campaign. But Wolves will be confident heading to Devon having already beaten the Raiders twice in the last two months.

Worcester secured an 85-83 victory at Plymouth in the first round of the BBL Trophy before defeating them 84-80 in the league.

However, James knows his side will need to concentrate for the full 40 minutes to-night if they are to get this weekend double-header off to a winning start.

“I keep saying that we are very, very close to being a complete team,” he said.

“But we need to remain fo-cused for the full 40 minutes.

“At Worthing we let the momentum swing back in their favour after taking a 12-point lead.”

Wolves, in the James era, are hoping to complete a double over Everton, last season’s BBL Cup winners.

The university-based side shocked the Tigers at the Echo Arena in Liverpool with a 76-67 win last month.

“Their coach Tony Garbelotto will have them fired up,” James said. “They won’t be taking us lightly.

“This is a massive weekend for us and we will be going all out to keep our play-off hopes alive.”

But James is calling on all his players to stand up and be counted in the push for the top-eight.

He added: “It can’t just be the usual suspects, we need all five players on the court to perform.”