Worcester Sport
James quashes any talk of title
8:00am Saturday 11th February 2012
DIRECTOR of basketball Paul James has admitted he thinks the British Basketball League title is beyond Worcester Wolves’ reach this season.
Wolves have been the surprise package so far with 12 wins from 17 games, including inflicting the only defeat on leaders Newcastle Eagles.
However, the second-placed side were edged out 102-100 by the Tynesiders in a thriller at the University of Worcester last Saturday and are six points behind the Eagles having played a game more.
“No, I don’t think we can win it now,” said James, when asked about his side’s title chances.
“However, we set our goals at the start of the season and we are way ahead of those so we are happy, but not satisfied.”
Fourth-placed Plymouth Raiders have six games in hand on James’ men, while third-placed Leicester Riders have four, and both can leapfrog Wolves if they win them.
Worcester, however, can keep up their hopes of a top-four finish by defeating the Raiders at the university tonight (7pm).
It will be the sixth meeting between the sides this season and, although Raiders ousted them in the BBL Cup semi-finals in December, it was Wolves who won the only league encounter with a 77-76 victory in November.
On that occasion, Sherrad Prezzie-Blue top-scored with 24 points and success over the Devon outfit would give them an unassailable 2-0 lead in the head-to-head statistics with only one league match to come in April.
James added: “The Raiders are one of the teams this season with an abundance of talented and experienced players on the roster.
“Jeremy Bell, Anthony Rowe, Paul Williams and Lehmon Colbert have all played consistently well.
“When we have been able to match their inside physicality we have done well against them.”