Worcester Wolves 65 Durham Wildcats 64 (From Worcester News)

Worcester Wolves 65 Durham Wildcats 64

7:30pm Sunday 13th November 2011 in Reports

A LATE David Watts basket helped Worcester Wolves eventually see off the challenge of Durham Wildcats at the University of Worcester.

Wolves often appeared to be carrying the effects of the previous night’s exertions against Mersey Tigers and struggled to fend off their plucky opponents.

Midway through the opening quarter, Wolves trailed 8-3.

By the close of the period, the hosts were still in arrears at 21-13.

But 6ft 9ins Wolves player Richie Gordon was consistently able to power home scores close to the basket on the way to 12 first-half points.

Small forward Tommy Freeman was also in fine form for the second night running, slicing through the Wildcats defence or scoring from the outside.

A Freeman three-pointer tied the scores at 25-25 with four minutes left of the first period before a made jump shot when falling down gave his team their first lead at 27-25 moments later.

Worcester eased away from Durham when Spanish forward Carlos Fernandez stole the ball and slammed in a breakaway score for a 35-28 advantage.

A 37-29 half-time lead was extended to 52-41 towards the end of the third period following a Gordon block and long assist to Sherrad Prezzie-Blue for a neat lay-up.

As the quarter drew to a close, veteran guard Ralph Bucci finally found his range for Wildcats from distance, reducing the lead to 52-45.

Wolves once more pulled clear of their visitors at 56-45 when Freeman took a charge under his own basket and nailed consecutive scores.

But a Durham side with their confidence buoyed by a comeback victory against Cheshire Jets the previous weekend were not ready to succumb.

A second Bucci score from outside the arc tied the scores at 58-58 with four minutes left.

A neat Fernandez shot from the corner took the Wolves ahead at 60-58 only for Durham forward Mike Capocci to float home a long-range score for his side to take the lead at 61-60.

Concerned Wolves coach Paul James called a time-out, drawing up a play that Lithuanian Arnas Kazlauskas was able to convert.

Only a minute remained when Watts made one of two free throws to put Wolves ahead at 63-61.

But their cushion once more disappeared as Durham quickly re-took the lead with another Capocci three-pointer.

A long two-point basket by Watts regained the advantage for Wolves at 65-64 with 27 seconds to go.

Durham had a shot to win the game which bounced out and a scramble under the basket ensued before Gordon grabbed the decisive rebound and secured the victory for the hosts.

Relieved Wolves director of basketball Paul James said: “Durham are a well-coached team and will cause a lot of teams problems this season.

“We were visibly tired from the game at Mersey and ran out of gas a bit in the fourth quarter, so I’m glad we have come away from the weekend unscathed.”

Meanwhile Durham coach Dave Elderkin was disappointed to see his side pipped at the post.

Freeman led the Worcester scorers with 21 points, supported by Prezzie-Blue and Gordon with 12 points apiece.

Wolves face games on consecutive nights again this weekend when they return to Mersey Tigers on Friday before taking on Plymouth Raiders at the University of Worcester on Saturday.