Worcester Wolves U16’s Vs. Swindon Sonics U16’s

Venue: University of Worcester

Date 10/11/12 Tip Off: 12.00pm

Worcester Wolves U16’s hosted Swindon Sonics this weekend at Worcester University. Swindon came to this game undefeated top of the table averaging 80 points a game.

The game started well for Sonics with their big man D. Williams winning the jump ball, driving hard to the basket scoring and drawing the foul, but unable to convert Wolves broke down the floor and scored their first points of the afternoon from James Cook. Coach Smith had the lads set to press after every basket and the lads delivered, turning Sonics over working through their play giving William Briggs the open 3 point shot. They continued to pressure Sonics but with some lazy defence picked up a number of fouls putting their opponents to the line very early on but luckily for the home team they were not able to punish them. Wolves continued to score their points and went into the break 12-7 up. This was the first time this season that Swindon had been down.

Don’t know what happened to Wolves during the 2 minute break but they seemed to forget how to play good defence, Sonics took advantage of this driving to the basket scoring drawing the fouls and within just 3 minutes Wolves were in foul trouble but again Sonics had a poor free throw percentage which was lucky for Wolves. Coach Smith called a much needed timeout to regroup the troops after Sonics went on a 4-17 run. The time out seemed to cause a role reversal it was now Swindon who started to foul and put Wolves to the line but they were just as bad with converting the penalty points. Half time couldn’t come quick enough for both coaches the teams were tied at the half 24 points apiece.

During the third and fourth quarter it was very hard to split the teams with both of them trading baskets and playing some very good basketball, the third quarter break saw Swindon with a one point advantage, the fourth quarter started off well for Wolves with William Briggs and James Cook both scoring 3 point shots, Kieran Henry-Fellows, Dan Cox and Troy Gahrs driving to the basket opened up a 9 point lead for Wolves. Swindon Coach called a time out and with a number of his players in fouls trouble had to re access his personal on the floor, he took the risk to put back into the game a number of players that had been sat on the bench, this turned out to be a good move they wanted to prove to their coach that they deserved to be in the team by turning the game around scoring 10 points to Wolves 3 58-56 Wolves. With 20 seconds left on the clock Sonics used up their last time out, they got to put the ball in at the half way line D. Williams got to drive to the basket and just like he had done to open the game scored tied the game drew the foul and with only 4 seconds left on the clock had the chance to win the game for his team, the ball just didn’t drop for him, Dan Cox got the rebound for Wolves and held the ball to take the game into overtime. 58 – 58

Overtime

This was just not Wolves part of the game they fell asleep and Sonics took full advantage of scoring off drive after drive. The game finished 60-68 Sonics.

The Wolves lads certainly made Sonics sit up a think this weekend, not only did they stay with them throughout the game they kept their scoring rate down as well. Good job lads and a lot of positives to take into your next game.

Wolves travel to Filton next weekend to play Bristol Academy Flyers who after results this weekend are top on point’s difference.

Wolves top scorers: James Cook 19, Will Briggs 9 and Kieran Henry-Fellows 8.

Report written by Emma Jane-Gardner.