Wolves join Newcastle on top of the pile

When Richie Gordon was presented with the golden ball for being named December player of the month before the game it must have made him want a pair. At the final buzzer the former Catamount had racked up 30 points, 20 boards and three blocks in a mammoth performance at centre.

Eight early points from Gordon set the tone but Durham kept pace and traded baskets throughout the first five. Just at the halfway mark in the first Prezzie-Blue scored Worcester’s first three which was followed by great play by the Wolves to work the Wildcat zone defence and get the ball to Freeman for his first look from distance  – and he made no mistake.

Paul Elderkin was working hard but he had an unfortunate collision with Prezzie-Blue for which he drew his second personal and went to the bench. The Wildcats were guilty of unnecessary fouls throughout the game as they struggled to keep pace but that one was just unlucky for Elderkin.

All things combined to make it a seven point game at 19-12 – Gordon with ten points to his name. Imperious on the boards Worcester’s number 55 was everywhere.

A nice three from Capocci and a 16 footer from Frreeman took us to the end of the quarter (21-16). Bucci was noticeably quiet and in fact he was sat down for a lot of the ten. It felt like Worcester had another gear or two that they could move in to if necessary.

At the start of the second it looked like it was hard work for both sides and there was no real rythym but Worcester’s instinctive ability was giving them the edge. Bucci was back in with two minutes 30 gone in the quarter.

Flaherty found himself at the line and had been Durham’s best player on the night up to this point. A stop start game stood at 24-19.

A big three from Tin-Tin woke everbody up and gave the hosts an eight point lead. Despite the attentions of two players Bucci then joined the party too as he sailed through for the lay-up.

Then the plays kept coming. A Freeman assist let in Zimnickas, Capocci drained one from three and Freeman responded from the perimeter. It was still an eight point game but things were warming up.

A short burst fromDurham led by Bucci with a three of his own brought the Wildcats back within three. Gordon had a double double already midway through the second and he was left free under the basket by the Wildcats D to help himself to two more.

The Wolves stretched their lead to the biggest of the game so far at nine points as Kaslauskas added to their tally from the line. A Durham guard put a hand in his face as he looked to sink one from outside. That led to the home side doing some serious damage as a rare Fernandez three was followed by a steal and dish from the Spaniard. Two quick Durham buckets narrowed the margin but the half ended with Freeman at the line and a 13 point lead for the hosts at 46-33.

Gordon continued the third where he left off and registered the first points. He even showed us a behind the back dribble as he put in Fernandez for the bucket. The Wolves zone defence was working well and forcing Durham to shoot from outside but Bucci got through again for two, 52-39 with three minutes gone in the second half.

Wolves continued to play well in zone defence and forced the shot clock down on Durham who came up with nothing, but Tommy Freeman got nothing but net from what must have been almost 23 feet. Davies replied from the perimeter for the Wildcats but the Wolves were in control of this one with Fernandez having an effective impact on the game in the third. Wolves led by 19 going in to the final ten 67-48.

With the game almost in the books Wolves were going through the motions to some extent in the fourth. Durham didn’t have enough strength in depth to keep pace with the hosts and all that was left was for Gordon to help himself to a couple more baskets to take him to 30 ponts for the night.

Freeman took two from the charity stripe bagging 13 points for himself and maintaining a comfortable margin. Durham kept coming and Paul Elderkin kept trying until the end with his basket at the final buzzer making the final score 86-72 Wolves. A very different margin from the last time these two played when Elderkin had a chance to win the game for Durham with the last attempt of the game but came up short.

Worcester go level on points with Newcastle at the top of the Championship but have played more games.

Carlos Fernandez scored a season high 14 points.