Nix nightmare thanks to outstanding Ocitti and wonder Williams
Without doubt it will be a night to forget for Coach Matt Lloyd as he saw his Cheshire Phoenix side ripped apart 90-121, thanks to the incredible outside shooting of Worcester Wolves.
The defeat saw former Cheshire forward Kai Williams devastate the Northgate boards racking up a game high 29 points, and Wolves team-mate Stanley Ocitti claim 27 points and ten rebounds, where between the pair, they hit 63% of all their shots on the night.
Chez Marks and Jerome Gumbs were both back and kitted up, but the latter did not feature at all for Phoenix, having still not recovered well enough to make a lengthy contribution in the game.
Initially, it seemed as though the home side were going to make do without Gumbs quite happily, hitting two early three pointers from Gabe Haskins and Chez Marks, split by two free throws by Williams. However, the four point lead quickly turned the other way as Wolves posted a 13-2 run, and with Alif Bland picking up two early fouls, Cheshire lost a huge presence in the middle of the court. Attempts dropped at a rate of 2 to 1 as the quarter came to a close at 12-25, with four points from Kalil Irving to round things off.
If the second quarter was a chapter in a book, the title would have been ‘All About Kai’, as he tallied up 15 points in all. The lead ever increased as Paul James’ side worked the perimeter well and penertrated with ease. Arnas Kazlauskas was causing all kinds of trouble which allowed for space for Ocitti, Owumi and most importantly, Williams, to work their magic, and the lead at the half way seemed well too far out for a miracle to happen for Phoenix, Stuart Thomson had the last say of the period with his three to end things 37-58.
Worcester were back out on court after only five minutes of the fifteen minute break, and looked like a side intent on making this score stretch further.
Not as intense, but just as devastating, Worcester’s unit on court were making it nightmare viewing for the Northgate crowd, as Cheshire seemed to lack any real heart and desire on court; the disappointment perhaps of losing out on a BBL Trophy final place still lingering in the minds of some of the players as the last play-off berth stepped further away as the game went on, going into the last quarter 27 points down at 58-85.
It was a case of playing the game out as James began to utilise his bench, drip feeding them on to court, and for Harrison Turner, Karl Noyer and Albert Ziwa – they did no harm to themselves in their appearances. The fourth period saw Worcester still in almost complete control, but a small charge from Phoenix helped prevent the scoreline reaching a 40-point gap.
Despite Marks’ return, there was absolutely nothing that could have stopped the dominance of Worcester in tonight’s showing, and with Sherrad Prezzie-Blue making good use of his time on court, it bodes very well for them heading into the play-off run-in. The sight of Kai Williams in the form he is in most likely rolled back 12 months for many of the Cheshire fans in attendance.
Phoenix, however, need a major re-group and fast if they are to even contemplate sneaking into that last play-off spot.
Sheffield Sharks, as Cheshire know only too well, are in form, and after their Trophy win will be flying high with confidence, knowing it is pretty much one win from the upcoming games between the sides to secure eighth place.
Paul James pleased with the win, perking him up whilst being under the weather with a cold:
Matt Lloyd, sounding somewhat disheartened and downbeat after such a defeat:
Play of the game
More than a play as it happened all game in how Worcester were able to draw an extra Phoenix player away allowing space too many times for either Owumi, Ocitti or Williams. If consistency is key to making their way to Wembley, then that will give them every chance of doing so.
Game MVP
It’s tough, believe you and me, but Kai Williams and Stanley Ocitti will be battling it out on the bus home for this as both men played a huge part in tonight’s events (and also made a mockery of my BBL betting prediction…)
Ocitti for me just edges it, and I mean JUST. His stat line reads 27 points, 10 rebounds and 5 assists, stellar stuff, and more impressive in the flesh.
