WORCESTER Wolves’ push for the post-season playoffs will be boosted when Robert Gilchrist returns to the side ahead of trips to Sheffield and Bristol this weekend.
Gilchrist returns from Commonwealth Games duty with England for the clashes with the Sharks and Flyers which follow a weekend to remember for the Wolves who recorded impressive victories against BBL high-flyers Newcastle Eagles and London Lions.
Friday night’s 87-65 triumph over the Eagles was matched by an outstanding 86-77 success at London Lions on Sunday and puts the Wolves in the mix for a top-four finish.
Coach Paul James was left purring about his team’s performances and hailed the weekend as ‘fantastic’.
“First we took care of Newcastle and then we’ve got past a London team that had just won eight in a row. The players have banded together and are working really hard for each other. I’m very proud of them.”
Former Worcester forward Paul Guede rattled in a swift eight points to open the afternoon for the Lions before Trayvon Palmer replied with a similarly-impressive 11 points but was then forced to the bench after collecting his third foul.
Lions led 27-16 with a couple of minutes left in the first quarter before the Wolves comeback commenced. Michael Ojo sank triples either side of the quarter interval and George Beamon scored on a fast break following a Dallin Bachynski block. When Bachynski confidently stepped back for a three-pointer it moved Worcester in front for the first time at 36-34 approaching half-time.
Alex Navajas featured heavily in the early moments of the third quarter. As he drove to the hoop he served up an easy basket for Palmer.
As the shot-clock wound down on his side’s next possession he nailed a three-pointer. Another long-distance score extended an 8-0 tear and a 47-39 advantage.
However, Lions displayed the resilience which had set them on their hot streak of wins to tie matters up at 60-60 as the final period opened.
At four minutes remaining, the contest was again even at 72-72 before London began to see players disqualified from the action.
Lions’ Jonathon Thompson went first, quickly followed by dangerous team-mate Cory Dixon before big man Flo Larkai clumsily barrelled into Palmer to curtail his involvement and allow Wolves to see out the win with repeated trips to the free-throw line.
Palmer and Bachynski led the way for Worcester with 24 points apiece. Beamon tallied 13 points, closely followed by 12 points each for Navajas and Ojo.
“Getting five players in double-figure scoring shows that we are getting people into the right places. Everyone understands the value of the extra pass,” James said.
Wolves make the trip to Yorkshire to face the Sharks on Friday before Saturday’s trip down the M5 to face the Flyers (tip-offs 7.30pm).