High-flying Wolves aiming to maul the Tigers (From Worcester News)

High-flying Wolves aiming to maul the Tigers

1:30pm Friday 13th January 2012 in News By Steve Carley, @stevecarleyWN #WENsport

WORCESTER Wolves return to action at Mersey Tigers tonight (7.30pm) aiming to pick up where they left off in the British Basketball League.

Second-placed Wolves ended 2011 with a 103-92 victory at Milton Keynes Lions, their ninth win in 12 games, and travel to Liverpool looking for a fourth consecutive triumph over the Tigers.

It is the first of two quick-fire fixtures for Paul James’ side with Durham Wildcats visiting the University of Worcester tomorrow night (7pm).

The Tigers are 10th in the table and will be out for revenge having already lost twice to Wolves in the championship and once in the BBL Cup.

Wolves were 91-62 winners in the BBL Cup in November, triumphed 97-79 in the championship a week later and, last month, prevailed 93-84 in the same competition.

However, despite three victories, James is not about to take the Merseysiders lightly, particularly with free-scoring American forward Tommy Freeman serving a one-match ban for two unsportsmanlike fouls against Leicester Riders last month.

The Wolves director of basketball said: “They are a team that play with a lot of energy and commitment which you come to expect from teams that are coached by Tony Garbelotto.

“They have three or four players who on their day can hurt you. Dave Aliu, Devan Bailey, Kris Douse and others on the team have shown this season at some point that they can put up big numbers.”

With Freeman missing, James could turn to David Watts, even though the England international is nursing a fractured rib sustained against Milton Keynes.

“It’s painful, but there’s not much anyone can do about, so we’ll strap it up,” Watts said.

“We’ve played the Tigers a handful of times and won them all but we’ve struggled in the first-half against them and had to execute well down the stretch to win.

“We need to start well, build a lead and be aggressive at both ends of the floor.”