Riders mauled by Wolf Pack

Worcester Wolves put in one of their best defensive displays of the season and went one step closer to securing a second placed finish in the BBL. The home side dominated the first three quarters including a 16 point difference in the third to take the Riders out of the contest with ten still to play.

After two convincing defeats against the Riders so far this term it was important for the Wolves to come out and let themselves and the Riders know that they knew a way to beat Leicester. The Riders now take last night’s punishment with them in to the playoffs should these two meet again.

Starting fives:

Worcester: Prezzie-Blue, Freeman, Fernandez, Gordon and Kaslauskas.
Leicester: Rundles, Hardy, Wierzbicki, Sherlock and Sullivan.

It wasn’t just a night when Wolves sent a message to the eight that are going to the post season but Richie Gordon also sent a message to those around the league who will be voting for their MVP this year. A monster first half performance saw him once again lay the foundations for a Worcester win.

It probably follows but not only was this one of the best defensive performances of the season (probably the best), but it was also the most complete team performance as four players fairly evenly shared the bulk of their 38 defensive boards.

Wolves started as if their coaches last words to them had been ‘go hard early’ with memories of a second half collapse against Leicester in December. The first five minutes saw them hustle the Riders forcing turnovers which helped them to a 15-8 lead. Gordon was finding space at the low post for basket after basket and was pulling down boards in defence as Riders came up short.

It was more of the same as we moved in to the second five too, and the ease in which Gordon was finding space would not have been to Rob Paternostro’s liking. Wierzbicki was doing his best to keep the home side honest at the other end of the court.

Riders then hit in to the defecit with two quick scores including a big three from Rundles but the quick reply was an alley-oop jammed home by Gordon to get the crowd up on their feet. It was a period in the game though where the momentum was finely balanced and Wolves got away with one as Kaslauskas hesitated after taking down the rebound and Hardy stole the ball away but failed to convert. When Hardy came on the next possession the Wolves defensive efforts were demonstrated again as three players converged to send him away from the net empty again.

With just a few seconds left in the quarter, a big hit on Gordon went unnoticed and Jones drew the foul at the basket to visit the line. The Captain failed to extend the lead any further though and it was Worcester by 7 at 25-18.

It was a big period for both sides as we headed in to quarter two as several of the starting fives for both teams were taking a breather. This is always a time when the Wolves look vulnerable and their seven point lead was down to just three as the role players looked to maintain their position in the gane. It was Drew Sullivan who stepped up during this period and after a travelling call against him he found his way to the hoop legally to reduce the defecit to four. With Freeman and Fernandez waiting to come back in Wierzbicki was at the charity stripe to make one to take us to that one basket game.

Gordon was back on also to settle things down with a deuce but Freeman sat back down almost immediately after getting a second personal against his name. Lamble rose for a score but Gordon brilliantly got his hand to the ball to send the Wolves up the other end and as David ‘Tin Tin’ Watts made the three, the home fans roared to acknowledge the importance of the passage of play. Both sides turned over their next possessions, Hardy threw a wild pass out of bounds and Paternostro called the timeout with the Wolves up by 8 with just under five gone.

After a period in which Cameron Rundles got in to a conversation of sorts with a fan, players got called for foul after foul and Gordon made it 20 for him for the night to extend the lead to 12, the sides traded baskets in the last few minutes. Both starting fives were on the floor as both coaches understandood the importance of those last few minutes before half time.

Wolves came out of another timeout and after great defensive work by Fernandez, Richie Gordon took off for a dunk worthy of Blake Griffin. Wolves continued to exert their dominance at both ends of the court as great defensive work, this time by Watts, sent Prezzie-Blue on his way to calmly lay-in with Sullivan in close attention.

At the half it was the visiting coach who had to do most of the thinking as Paul James’ side led by 13 at 48-35.

There was a big decision for Coach James to make too though. When you are 13 points up there are inevitably going to be gaps opening up, particularly at the perimiter, and so do you continue to do what you have been doing so well, or do you look to get your shooters in the open and twist the knife?

When the Riders did return it was Yorrick Williams who gave the pep talk in the huddle, commanding the respect of his Riders’ colleagues as Sherlock and Hardy nodded their agreement.

As we get underway the Wolves worked the ball to Freeman behind the arc but it rimmed out. Cameron Rundles continued to struggle as the crowd gave him plenty, knowing and fearing the threat he posessed.

A poor call on Gordon when guarding Sullivan put him on three and saw him sat down. A couple of quick scores including a Prezzie-Blue three took the Wolves out to 17 before Rundles floated one in charging down the lane. Freeman switched his attentions to inside but came up short but Prezzie-Blue converted, laying one up on the next possession after yet another turnover forced by the Worcester defence. Worcester’s point guard wasn’t done there either as he came with another trey and his third quarter show was the icing on the cake of a an all round great team performance. As David Watts followed up with a trademark three after a defensive take-away we went in to a Riders timeout with the Wolves holding the biggest lead of the game at 19 (61-40) with 4:19 left on the clock.

This report won’t make it very far in to the fourth quarter. It was the only quarter the Riders edged but while they are always a threat and a very talented team there was no coming back after thirty minutes.

Wolves came out of the timeout with just over 25 gone and Freeman came with his own score from downtown. Minutes later Lamble lay receiving treatment after an innocuous looking collision and it certainly wasn’t Leicester’s night as they now trailed by 26. Riders were forced to apply the pressure in the front court and Wolves were able to manage the game clock with 12 minutes left in the contest. Something that’s usually reserved for the last few minutes of an encounter.

Wolves were relentless still though as Freeman and Jones both made their way to the glass to bring the Riders to their knees 30 points back. Rundles pulled one back from the line but the end of the thirty sounded with the score at 74-45 to the hosts.

There was a four point play in the fourth by Freeman, an aggressive start to the quarter from Riders, Rundles was still playing with a smile on his face despite his night, Van Beest got on the scorebaord for Worcester and Gordon fouled out, but we were done.

The Wolves avoided their only potential sweep of the season and travel to Plymouth today with their destiny still firmly in their own hands. Wolves 93 Riders 71 at the buzzer. Here endeth the lesson.