Looking to finish the year on a strong note (From Worcester News)

Looking to finish the year on a strong note

10:00am Saturday 24th December 2011 in Paul James

HAVING put ourselves in a great position in the British Basketball League, we are looking to finish 2011 strongly.

If we could win our two games next week, we could end the year top of the league which would be a nice present for 2012.

We are at home to Leicester Riders on Wednesday which will be tough as they have only lost once this season.

Then it’s away at Milton Keynes Lions on Friday and they have beaten us already so we will be looking for revenge.

However, I am really proud of what the guys have done to this point in the season – it’s something we could only have dreamed of.

They have worked hard both on the court and in the gym on their fitness.

There’s no substitute for hard work and it’s paid off with the games we have won.

I don’t know whether people are waiting for us to fall over in the league but we have been training hard and are mentally strong.

I am sure if teams haven’t taken us seriously before, they will do now.

Despite being second, we don’t think it’s job done yet at all and know there’s a long way to go.

But we have points on the board, which is crucial, and the teams who are looking up at us will be under pressure to win matches.

Last weekend was the best one of our season and the most important as far as the league is concerned. It could not have been any tougher.

The 94-86 triumph at Newcastle was fantastic and probably our best win so far.

We beat a team who don’t normally lose at home. It was almost a four-point game for us.

I was also delighted with the performance against Glasgow Rocks the next day when we won 87-65 at the University of Worcester.

I wanted to guard against throwing away all that good work against Newcastle and the players responded well.

They came out of the blocks quickly and virtually won the game in the first-half.

It was also good to see Richie Gordon and Tommy Freeman get recognition in the BBL team of the week.

There’s a buzz around the league about those two and, at the age of 23, they have taken the competition by storm.