Wolves share second after win in Knowsley

Worcester Wolves maintained their 100% start to the BBL Championship campaign and as a result moved themselves into joint second position in the table thanks to a 79-97 victory over the Mersey Tigers at the Knowsley Leisure Centre on Friday night.

The Wolves were quite comfortable for the majority of the contest, especially after a 13-6 burst in the first quarter to take the score out to 14-21 set the tone for the remainder of the contest.

A 9-3 Wolves tear in the second quarter helped the visitors out to an 11 point lead at 19-30, but the Tigers kept themselves in touch as they bagged the next nine points to trim the gap to just two points at 28-30, but five points from Sherrad Prezzie-Blue helped the visitors into a nine point lead at 28-37 heading into the locker rooms at the half.

In the second half, the Tigers again closed the defecit thanks to a 8-2 run to bring the score back to 36-39, but the Wolves broke the game open after a 21-3 run, including 11 points from Tommy Freeman, to take the score out to 39-60.  The Tigers tried valiantly to get themselves back into the contest as they bagged seven of the last eight points of the third quarter to trim the deficit to 14 points at 51-65 heading into the final stanza.

In the final quarter, the Tigers could not close the deficit to less than 14 points as the Wolves continued to dominate at both ends of the floor and a 15-0 run midway through the final period gave them their biggest lead of the contest at 56-85 and despite a valiant effort from the Tigers to get themselves back into the game they could not close the gap enough as the visitors held on for the impressive victory.

Freeman led all scorers in the game with 27 points for the Wolves, while Marlin Capers led the Tigers with 21 points personal.

Mersey Tigers 79 (15,28,51) Capers 21, Douse 16, Aliu 13.
Worcester Wolves 97 (21,37,65) Freeman 27, Watts 21, Gordon/Jones 11.