Worcester Wolves 86 Durham Wildcats 72 (From Worcester News)

Worcester Wolves 86 Durham Wildcats 72

4:57pm Tuesday 24th January 2012 in Worcester Wolves

WORCESTER Wolves moved back to joint-top of the British Basketball League after comfortably seeing off the challenge of the Durham Wildcats at the University of Worcester.

Having beaten the league’s 10th-placed side, the Mersey Tigers, on Friday, Wolves ensured that no mercy was shown to the team at the foot of the table the following day.

Before the tip-off, Wolves centre Richie Gordon was presented with the gold-painted Molten match ball after being recognised as the BBL player-of-the-month for December.

He soon showed that the festive break had done nothing to interrupt his output as he dominated play close to both baskets, rattling up a quick-fire 10 first-quarter points and five rebounds.

With Tommy Freeman soon back into his scoring stride after serving a one-game suspension, Wolves led 21-16 at the end of the first period.

Useful three-point shooting from Durham guard Paul Elderkin hinted at a competitive game, but this ended once he had to take a seat on the bench with a couple of fouls. David Watts hit consecutive outside scores of his own and even Carlos Fernandez floated home a rare basket from beyond the arc as Wolves went into half-time 46-33 to the good.

Gordon registered the opening points of the second-half with a gentle put-back and followed this with a ferocious dunk a moment later.

With swaggering confidence he swatted away a shot attempt from Wildcats veteran Ralph Bucci and then showed a behind the back dribble to put Fernandez in for a bucket.

Sherrad Prezzie-Blue bagged a couple of three-pointers and then converted an easy lay-up from a Fernandez steal and assist, putting down any Wildcats resistance.

Going into the final quarter already holding a 67-48 advantage, it was almost cruel to watch the ease with which Gordon out-muscled the Durham defenders to score 30 points to go with his 20 rebounds.