Sherrad Prezzie-Blue

Match Report by Colin Taylor, 17 December 2011

Worcester Wolves quickly followed up their outstanding 94-86 triumph over BBL leaders, the Newcastle Eagles, by easily dismissing the challenge of the BBL’s third-placed team, the Glasgow Rocks, 87-65 on Saturday.

Despite only arriving back from Tyneside in the early hours of Saturday morning, the players showed no signs of tiredness, and were eager to show their supporters that Friday’s win was no fluke.

Arnas Kazlauskas

Three of Wolves’ first four scores of the game were long-range baskets from Sherrad Prezzie-Blue, Arnas Kazlauskas and Tommy Freeman. By the end of the evening the Wolves had rattled in a further eleven scores from distance, leaving their opponents wide-eyed and without response.

The opening quarter of the game also featured ten quick points close to the basket from American centre Richie Gordon, helping his side to a 30-21 advantage.

After three minutes of the second period the Rocks own big man DeAundre Cranston was unable to contain his upset at being unable to penetrate the Wolves defence, collecting a technical foul for loudly voicing his frustration. Freeman made both of the resultant foul shots, and hit a three-point score on the next attack to widen the Wolves lead to 40-21.

At four seconds remaining in the first half Wolves led 48-34, but could do nothing to prevent a wild shot from close to the halfway line by Rocks point guard Mychal Green floating home, pulling the score back to 48-37.

The highlight of the third period for Glasgow was when Scottish International forward Gareth Murray bagged consecutive scores from outside the arc to close the contest to 60-51. However, when Kazlauskas took the last five points of the quarter, the Wolves lead stretched back out to 66-51.

There was little further resistance from the Rocks in the final quarter of the match, allowing Wolves coach Paul James to give his bench players extended minutes as the game wound down to the eventual handsome 87-65 victory.

Paul James

At the end of the contest, James was proud of his side's efforts over the past two nights:
"I was not surprised that we won tonight's game. We showed our mental toughness, spirit and guts to pick up the victory tonight after last night's performance."

Freeman led the Worcester scorers for the second night in a row with 23 points, followed by Gordon and Kazlauskas with 18 and 16 points respectively. Andrew Wedemire led the scoring for Glasgow with 18 points.

Wolves will round off their pre-2012 fixtures by facing Leicester Riders at the University of Worcester on Wednesday 28 December (tip off 7.30pm), before travelling to Milton Keynes Lions on Friday 30 December.