City of Birmingham II U18’s Vs. Worcester Wolves U18’s

Venue: Nechells Sports Centre - Birmingham

Date 10/11/12 Tip Off: 2.20pm

Wolves travelled to Birmingham wanting to extend their unbeaten run and knowing that a victory would guarantee them top spot and a psychological advantage before facing high flyers Ilkeston next week. The game started brightly for Wolves and an early 3 point basket from Dylan Richardson was quickly followed by the same score from Ash Dickson as he hit the first of his 6 three point baskets. After just 2 ½ minutes the lead had extended to 11-0 with City of Birmingham unable to compete with the Wolves height as they controlled the boards at both ends of the court. With six minutes played Wolves looked on course to win by a healthy margin with a commanding lead of 20-5, but more importantly seemingly unable to miss from downtown. However the next 4 minutes belonged to the home team as they scored nine unanswered points reducing the end of the 1^st quarter deficit to 6 points at 20-14.

At the start of the second quarter Wolves upped the pace and again caught City of Birmingham off guard. Half way through the quarter Dickson and Richardson were still scoring freely and with Dave Nash, Sam Broughton and Tom Cox adding to the score the lead had quickly increased to 38-14. Four points in two minutes was all that City of Birmingham could manage in the quarter and with a half time lead of 49-18 the Wolves knew their seventh straight victory was within their grasp. Having scored 19 points in the first half Ash Dickson had individually scored more than the entire Birmingham team and with Dylan Richardson on 15 he wasn’t far behind.

Whatever the Birmingham coach said to his team at half time it certainly worked as they started much the brighter and a 7-0 run of their own forced Wolves into an early time out. Shots previously being made were now being missed and the long range shooting was proving fruitless as the home team were quickly closing down the shooters. The time out worked in as much as it stopped the Birmingham momentum but with the teams trading baskets for the rest of the period the lead at the end of the 3^rd quarter had been reduced slightly to 64-37.

A number of changes to the on court personnel did the trick for Wolves in the fourth quarter as they again took control of the game. Some excellent passing of the ball around the top of the arc opened up the Birmingham defence and with space being created under the basket Wolves were finding it easier to make the lay-ups and with everybody on court adding to the score the lead was gradually increasing. The final score was a respectable 89-54 and with most players on the scoresheet confidence is at an all time high.

Wolves are now 7 and 0 and deservedly on top of the league as they continue to enjoy their best ever start to a National League season. Next week the Wolves are at home to Ilkeston Outlaws, tip-off 12:30. Ilkeston surprisingly lost their 100% start to the season on Saturday and in what is a tight league fell from 2^nd to 4^th.

Wolves Top Scores: Ash Dickson 25, Dylan Richardson 20, Dave Nash 16

Report written by Robert Cox