WORCESTER Wolves opened their home British Basketball League season at the University of Worcester with high hopes when they entertained Sheffield Sharks.

However this optimism was shortlived as they were hammered by 29 points.

The Sharks point guard Ryan Patton has enjoyed all his previous visits to Worcester when playing for both Sheffield Arrows and Worthing Thunder and Saturday was no different.

He piled up the game’s highest individual total of 24 points. andsettled the match almost single-handedly in the second quarter with three long range threes as Wolves left him far too much space.

Patton added to the home team’s woes as he made another maximum, without needing the rim or the glass, from close to the half-way line as the half-time buzzer sounded with Sheffield 50-29 in front and Worcester staring a big defeat in the face.

The game had opened with an even first quarter which saw Skouson Harker notch up the first four points for Worcester.

The former player-coach was his usual aggressive self as he tried to lead the Wolves big men under the Sharks’ basket.

Worcester were missing last week’s highest individual scorer, Randy George, who was sick but with only a five-point deficit after the first 10 minutes it was the 15-2 Sheffield burst, inspired by Pat-ton, in the second period that settled the game.

Six of the visitors players scored more than 10 and Mike Cook, with 22, and assistant coach Todd Cau-thorn, with 18, dominated the third quarter as it ended with the visitors out of sight by a clear 30 points at 77-47.

Ex-Newcastle Eagle and newcomer to Sheffield, Tafari Toney, also shone as he made 14 rebounds to go with his score of 12.

As the last period started, it did bring some relief to the capacity Worcester crowd as Evaldas Zabas inspired a 7-0 run for the Wolves.

He was in fine scoring form for Worcester as he made all four of his three-pointers with his own awesome display of shooting from beyond the arc.

The Lithuanian finished with 19 points while the battling Harker made a determined 16 with nine rebounds.

This sharp burst from the home team was broken when American Cook potted a three of his own for the Sharks.

The teams traded baskets in the last few minutes as both sides entertained the crowd.

One of Wolves’ new Americans, Kenny Saunders, eventually cau-ght the eye with some fine two-pointers but the game ended with Sheffield romping home by a big margin.