Mersey Tigers 54 Worcester Wolves 86

Worcester Wolves subjected Mersey Tigers to their fifth consecutive defeat in the BBL Championship on Friday night, 54-86, despite a very much improved performance from Tony Walsh’s side.

Despite Wolves arriving with little time to spare before tip-off, because of traffic problems on the way to Merseyside, they cut short their warm-up. This may have played into the hands of the home side as in the first quarter Tigers ran their visitors close, but were just edged out by six points, 17-23, by the end of the period.

There were signs at times that Walsh’s team would fold, but seemed to regain focus as half time loomed. Rather than the deficit doubling, Tigers brought some momentum by keeping the gap to just ten points, 31-41, going into the locker room, but there would still need to be plenty left in reserve to overturn Wolves’ lead.

A similar story in the third, the tally grew in favour of Worcester, but another fightback came their way, however, the early questions began to be asked of Mersey’s experience and fitness as Wolves finished the stronger to stretch out a 17 point lead, 44-61.

Those questions were soon answered fully as it took Tigers almost six minutes of the final quarter to put points on the board, from Ryan Gallagher (46-75) which ended an 18-0 run from Paul James’ Worcester across the end of the third and beginning of the fourth quarters.

Mersey still showed plenty of spirit and determination to finish out the game, but they could not prevent the score from extending further, finishing up with Worcester claiming a 32 point win, 54-86.

Rudy Etilopy and Josh McGinn hit double figures, 15 and 11, respectively for Tigers, and Gael Hulsen had an outstanding first half defensively, together with big performances across the first three quarters as a collective, but perhaps against a ‘lesser’ side, Tigers may have produced their first victory of the season.

Paul James highlighted the problem early on in the game, but was pleased how his side maintained the pressure to claim the win: “They played hard, we were lacklustre, possibly because we arrived late and didn’t have a great warm-up, the first half was an extension to us warming up, but second half we executed better offensively, picked up defensively, and made it look easier than it was.

“Our fitness was better, and they probably were taking shots that coach didn’t want them to make, but that’s now where we are seeing the difference between teams in fitness and execution down the stretch.”

Speaking on Tigers’ prospects, he said: “Full credit, Mersey are here,they are playing hard, play with their heads high and if they are bringing in guys next week to add more quality to the team, who knows what will come of it.”

Tigers’ guard McGinn felt it was marked progress forward: “It was a step, a baby step, but we’re always looking to make the next one in practice. We competed for a good thirty minutes, but we got tired and we’re not as deep as them.”

Coach Tony Walsh had nothing but praise and hope for his side, despite the loss: “The guys are in the gym everyday working hard, so it’s beginning to show. We did this against Manchester in the first two quarters keeping it tight, but lost it with fitness. This time an extra quarter, but Gael who was outstanding for us, became exhausted so hard for us; there are plenty of positives to take from this.

He also believes it will no doubt spur his side on away to Wildcats on Sunday afternoon: “The lads will be up for it on Sunday and other coaches have spoke to me and said my guys just do not give up until the final buzzer goes. They may be exhausted, but they go for every ball they can. If we rest up and then can show that in Durham, we may just get that win.”

There will, of course, be doubters that might say if Worcester had gotten there earlier, would a regular warm-up have made a bigger score line, but that we will never know.

Mersey Tigers: 54 (Etilopy 15, McGinn 11, Hulsen 7)

Worcester Wolves: 86 (Owumi 20, Thomson 18, Fernandez 11)