Sunday, January 15, 2006

WORCESTER Wolves made history by booking their first big basketball cup final appearance despite losing 88-74 to London United yesterday.

The University of Worcester side had completed the most difficult task with a stunning 104-66 first-leg win in London the previous weekend which made it 178-154 on aggregate.

Wolves now go through to the National Trophy final at the Coventry Skydome on Sunday, February 5, and face City of Sheffield Arrows who defeated Reading Rockets 185-179 overall.

Worcester put in a good second-leg display, working hard enough to stay in touch with the English League Division One title-chasers.

Americans Andy Harper and Ty Shaw claimed 18 and 16 points respectively with giant Rob Clarke pitching in with 12.

London scored the majority of their tally through Damien Reid (28), Pete Deppisch (24) and Jacek Jagodka (23).

But the visitors arrived with only six players and lost one to injury, allowing Wolves to give their bench players court time with London increasingly tired and frustrated.

The team from the capital city led 23-21 at the end of a tight first quarter but were overtaken in the second with Ben Potts' late two-pointer putting them 44-42 ahead.

Any hopes London may have harboured of pulling back the fixture looked increasingly futile with the score at 61-54 to Wolves by the end of the third quarter.

Home coach Josh Cooprider then introduced four bench players to give them excellent experience as London marched ahead in the end but by too small a margin.