Riders erupt in third to take win against Wolves
The Worcester Wolves hosted the Jelson Homes DMU Leicester Riders only days after the two sides celebrated Christmas and it was the visiting Riders who ended the game with one final festive gift – a 99-75 win.
The win wasn’t gift wrapped and handed to them by the hosts as the first half showed that neither side had forgotten the competitive history between the two sides.
The opening 20 minutes were punctuated by physicality and free throws and thanks to Wolves 82% conversion rate from the charity stripe (18/22 in the game), they took a five point lead into the half which would have been greater had Bradd Wierzbicki (23 points) not canned back to back triples for the visitors with time winding down. At the half, Worcester led 45-40.
Whatever Riders Coach Rob Paternostro told his men at the interval, it worked as his side re-entered the game on fire on both ends of the floor, holding Wolves to single digit (9) scoring in the third period while unleashing an offensive avalanche on the home side.
The Riders offense was capably conducted during a 20 point explosion by Minnesotan born Cameron Rundles (29 points, 11 rebounds), who poured in 10 points in the final five minutes of the third. And with the home side no longer getting whistles to send them to the line, Coach James’ side were staring at a 12 point deficit heading into the final period.
The long range bombing Tommy Freeman (16 points, 6 rebounds, 7/7 FT but 1/7 3PT), exited the game with 6:37 remaining in the game and with his departure, Wolves conceded defeat.
It was a tough loss to take for Coach James who was clearly upset at the final buzzer by his team’s perceived collapse but they will have a chance to end 2011 on a high as they play the Milton Keynes Lions in two days time in Buckinghamshire.
