No play-off fear (From Evesham Journal)

No play-off fear

12:17pm Tuesday 17th April 2012 in News By Steve Carley - Midlands Sports Journalist of the Year 2013, @stevecarleyWN

WORCESTER Wolves say they will fear nobody in the British Basketball League play-offs.

The University of Worcester team completed their regular season with a 94-80 defeat at Plymouth Raiders on Sunday, 24 hours after seeing off Leicester Riders 93-71 at home.

But they must wait to see who their opponents in the end-of-season showpiece will be as both Leicester and Plymouth can pip them to second place with their remaining games.

However, head coach Paul James, pictured right, has nothing but praise for his players and is relishing the prospect of further success.

“As a team we have achieved our goal of finishing in the top four,” he said.

“We have had a wonderful season which hasn’t finished yet.

“We don’t know if we are going to finish second, third or fourth and we don’t know who we are going to be playing. It’s going to be an exciting week for us and, whoever we play in the play-offs, we will be ready for them.”

He added: “In the game against Leicester we wanted to push hard and beat them and I thought we played really well and put a lot of effort in to come out quite comfortable winners.

“We wanted to finished on a winning note against Plymouth but didn’t get off to the best of starts.

“But I thought we fought very well and, overall, I was really delighted with the efforts of the players.

“Even though we end the regular season on this note, we must be mindful that we have had the most incredible season and now must look forward to the play-offs.”

The play-offs are between the top eight teams in the league and Wolves will face one of the sides ranked fifth to eighth in a two-legged quarter-final.

Their home leg will be at the university on Saturday, April 28, although the away leg could be either the day before or after depending on who their opponents are.

Plymouth and Leicester trail Wolves by two and four points respectively in the championship and both have two games remaining.

The Riders, who have the head-to-head advantage over Wolves, host champions Newcastle Eagles tomorrow night and Guildford Heat on Sunday, while the Raiders are at Milton Keynes Lions tomorrow before travelling to Sheffield Sharks on Friday.