Wolves level at top after double (From Worcester News)

Wolves level at top after double

9:30pm Sunday 18th December 2011 in Reports

WORCESTER Wolves went level on points at the top of the British Basketball League with two resounding victories in the space of 24 hours.

The University of Worcester side stunned previously unbeaten leaders Newcastle Eagles 94-86 on Friday night, overturning a 13-point last-quarter deficit for the victory on Tyneside.

Paul James’ men then returned to their own court the following day to demolish third-placed Glasgow Rocks 87-65 and now have 16 points, along with Newcastle, at the summit.

It was the perfect response from a side that had suffered the disappointment of losing to Plymouth Raiders in the BBL Cup semi-final the previous weekend.

Tommy Freeman led the way against the Eagles, hitting five three-pointers, while Sherrad Prezzie-Blue chipped in with 23.

However, Charles Smith led all scorers with 37 points and his side held a narrow 24-21 advantage at the end of the first quarter.

Newcastle stamped their authority on the contest in the second as they extended their lead to 47-33, although Wolves had pulled back to trail by nine at the interval.

In the third quarter, the visitors were unable to make much headway into the Newcastle advantage and still trailed 64-51 as the period ended.

However, a remarkable four consecutive scores from outside the arc by Freeman in the first 90 seconds of the final quarter slashed the deficit to just four points. Another Freeman basket soon after took Wolves into the lead for the first time since the start at 71-70.

With four minutes remaining, the visitors led 83-74 and there was no way back for a shell-shocked Newcastle.

Under 24 hours later, Wolves were back at the University to follow up their outstanding exploits with a comfortable 87-65 defeat of Glasgow Rocks.

Despite only returning in the early hours of Saturday morning, the players showed no signs of tiredness.

Again, it was Freeman who top-scored, this time with 23, followed by 18 from Arnas Kazlauskas and Richie Gordon’s 16.

Three of Wolves’ first four scores were long-range baskets from Prezzie-Blue, Kazlauskas and Freeman and, by the end, had rattled in a further 11 scores from distance.

The opening quarter also featured 10 quick points close to the basket from American centre Gordon, helping his side to a 30-21 advantage.

Early in the second period, Rocks‘ DeAundre Cranston collected a technical foul and Freeman made both of the resulting foul shots in helping Wolves open up a 40-21 cushion.

Having led 48-37 at half-time, Scottish international forward Gareth Murray bagged consecutive scores from outside the arc to close the gap to 60-51, although the hosts had stretched back out to 66-51 at the end of the third quarter.

There was little resistance from the visitors in the final quarter, allowing Wolves coach James to give his bench players extended minutes as the game wound down a handsome victory.