Essex & Herts Leopards 85 (25,52,65)
Worcester Wolves 79 (18,37,61)

Game Photos from www.tgsphotos.co.uk

Leopards set themselves up perfectly for Saturday’s National Cup semi-final at Goresbrook by beating Worcester Wolves 85-79 in a dress rehearsal at Brentwood. Led by a 29-point haul from Troy Selvey, the Big Cats became the first side to defeat Wolves, after Josh Cooprider’s team had opened the season with 11 straight victories.

Bernie Hayden of Match Sponsor Waldon Fruit Ltd
named Troy Selvey as MVP

Sam Salter added a season-high 26 points as Leopards led for most of the game – though it was not until the final minute before they sealed victory in a tense game. After scoring the opening points through Andy Harper, Wolves’ only other lead came with 2:45 of the first period remaining when Ty Shaw converted two free-throws. Selvey levelled the opening score from the foul-line before putting Leopards ahead, and the lead grew to 7-2 after a Dave Jones trey. Five straight Sam Salter points kept Leopards ahead, but a treys from Harper Lithuanian Valdas Urbonavicius put Wolves into the lead for the second and final time. Selvey again replied before birthday-boy Roger Lloyd increased the lead with a dunk, and the margin was taken out to five at the first break when Demetrice Williams stole the ball and scored with five seconds remaining.

Selvey scored the first five points on the second period, but with Robert Clarke scoring well at the other end, Wolves were within a point at the midway stage of the period. However, 11 unanswered points from the home put them in charge as Salter added ten points in three minutes, and an Errol Seaman two seconds before the end sent Leopards into the locker room with a 52-39 advantage.

Wolves fought back after the break, scoring the first eight points of the second half, before Selvey broke the run, and it took a Salter three-pointer to send the Big Cats into the final period with a 65-61 lead.

Leopards opened the fourth quarter with a 10-4 run, despite Steve Ogunjimi continuing to struggle offensively. Ben Potts closed the game with a trey, but Ty Shaw did not help his side’s cause when he picked up a technical foul , and four straight points from Salter plus an Ogunjimi two put Leopards 83-75 ahead. A pair of Matt Collins free-throws made in 83-77, but Leopards held their nerve to record a morale-boosting win that should send them into Saturday’s clash in a positive mood.

Leopards: T Selvey 29, S Salter 26, E Seaman 8, D Jones 8, D Williams 7, S Ogunjimi 4, R Lloyd 4, M Eames (DNP), E Gregory (DNP), B Moore (DNP)

Leopards boss Jon Burnell is keeping his feet firmly on the ground after his side became the first team to defeat Worcester Wolves this season. The Big Cats won the dress rehearsal for Saturday’s National Cup semi-final 85-79, but Burnell refused to get carried away with the victory: “I’ve expected us to produce a performance like this for a long time” he said.
“The only thing that really impressed me was how we reacted when they put together a run in the third period. We proved that if you stay doing the things that got you in a good position to start with, you can keep your nose in front.”

Burnell admitted to being impressed with the Wolves side who had won their first 11 games this season: “They were everything I expected them to be” he said. “They have good balance, their shooting guard Harper was sharp, and I was very impressed with him. Winning on Sunday probably makes it harder for us in the semi-final, as they will have something to prove this week.”

Burnell had praise for his centre Troy Selvey , and was pleased with the way his side bounced back after losing at Manchester on Saturday. “I’m proud of how Troy played at the weekend, he’s started to produce the kind of form we know he’s capable of. It’s no drama losing at Manchester, it’s tough to win at places like that. It’s different to going to places like Coventry and not winning there.”

Saturday’s game against Worcester at Goresbrook starts at 7.30pm.

Be there!