WORCESTER Wolves have been crowned champions of National Basketball League Division One Pool A following an 81-69 victory against St Helens Saints.
The Wolves knew only a win against the Merseyside club would clinch Worcester’s first piece of silverware for four years.
And the 81-69 success meant Worcester ended the season with a 17-5 win-loss record the same as runners-up Myerscough Academy.
However, the Wolves beat their rivals in both of the league meetings between the two clubs which ensured the title headed to Worcester.
Worcester coach, Dean Blake said: “I’m just so proud of the players.
“We had to come from behind a few times but it’s testament to the guys that we stuck together and got the win over the line.
“It’s been a long road to get here but all the effort, sacrifice and commitment the guys have shown throughout the season have led to us coming out on top.
“There’s not one player here that we couldn’t have achieved this without.”
Worcester forced St Helens to turn the ball over on their first possession but then found themselves in a spell of careless ball-handling to make for a scrappy first quarter.
Earl Burgess showed grit to tip consecutive teammate misses into the basket and Georgios Stergiopoulos slotted home a double of three-pointers to nudge Wolves 17-15 ahead entering the second period.
Jesse Kilara joined the action and soon profited from accepting a slick Daijaun Antonio assist and a hand-off pass from Burgess.
Humberto Ferreira sank a rare triple with the shot-clock about to expire and bustled his way to the hoop to aid a 38-31 half-time away advantage.
However, the interval lead quickly evaporated on the back of St Helens’ accurate outside shooting, drawing the teams into a 39-39 tie.
Only a late-quarter burst of scoring from Emmanuel Yeboah allowed Worcester to restore a 54-49 cushion.
By midway through the final period successive powerful drives from former Worcester veteran Disraeli Lufadeju reduced the visiting lead back to just 59-58.
However, a raft of technical and unsportsmanlike fouls by Saints put pay to the home side’s comeback hopes.
Fin Rennie stole the ball from Lufadeju to set up a crowd-pleasing alley-oop basket for Burgess to establish 76-66 control in the closing minute of the match, just ahead of the title-winning celebrations.
And Burgess rounded off his regular-season contributions with a customary double-display of 18 points and a dozen rebounds while Yeboah and Ferreira tabbed 13 points apiece with captain Wilfrid Santhe and Antonio notching 10.
Santhe added: “It’s a great feeling to win the league.
“All the guys we have here this year, especially the first-year players, have made such a difference
“I’ve been here five seasons and now want to end my time in Worcester on an even bigger high with the play-off title.”
Blake said: “We’ve ended our season unbeaten at the University of Worcester Arena.
“Although we now wipe the slate clean to go into the post-season we have the confidence of having made our venue a fortress.
“The University Arena is our house.”
