At the Copper Box in Queen Elizabeth Park, Mark Ferguson saw basketball’s Worcester Wolves snatch victory from the jaws of London Lions.
Worcester Wolves topped the Basket Ball League Championship after a nail-biting 63-62 overtime victory against London Lions at Stratford’s Copper Box Arena on Thursday night. The Worcester side (not to be confused with those other Wolves from Wolverhampton Wanderers FC) maintained their unbeaten record and picked up a third consecutive win.
The visitors easily dominated the first half. At the interval they were 10 points ahead. But the Lions fought back bravely to take the lead. Towards the end of regulation time, it looked as if the Lions had edged it; but with seconds to go Stefan Djukic levelled to take the game to overtime. The extra period was also closely fought, but Wolves prevailed over Lions in the final few minutes.
Lions’ new signing, Great Britain international Matthew Bryan-Amaning shone on his homecoming, picking up five blocks on the night. In the first quarter, he was locked into a straight fight with Wolves’ centre, Will Creekmore. Each of them contributed six points.
Creekmore continued to impress in the second quarter and propelled his side to their biggest lead of the game. He made a very tough fade-away shot before sinking a three-pointer to give Wolves a 29-18 advantage.
Good work from Wolves’ guard Alex Owumni kept his side well ahead. He notched on three successive occasions – a key contribution to Wolves’ 37-27 lead at the interval.
In the second half the Lions looked like a different team. Bryan-Amaning continued to show his quality, making some big defensive plays which kept Creekmore at bay. Working alongside Bryan-Amaning, Joe Ikhinmwin and Rod Brown managed to contain Wolves’ Alex Owumni and Zaire Taylor, restricting the visitors to just eight points in the third quarter. Their hard work paid off and the Lions were within two points of Wolves (41-43), when the third quarter ended.
A series of huge blocks from Bryan-Amaning really got the Lions roaring and he went on to tie the game with a jump-shot. The home team was in the ascendancy and went in front thanks to four further points from Brown.
At 56-51, only a minute away from a Lions’ victory, Wolves’ Jamal Williams drove forward, scored and was fouled. He converted the subsequent free-throw to take Wolves within two points.
It was a one shot game and the Lions were in possession, but once again they contributed to their own downfall and turned the ball over. Djukic took full advantage and raced away to score the easy lay-up and tie the game. There was still time for the Lions to take the last shot in regulation time but they failed to convert, leaving the game to be decided in overtime.
Wolves came out firing in overtime and made five baskets in a row, but the Lions fought back once again. Unfortunately Ikhinmwin squandered a golden opportunity to take the game for the home side when he missed a jump-shot with the clock winding down. The Lions were consigned to defeat by the narrowest of margins, 63-62.
To get to the Copper Box, Mark Ferguson walked through Queen Elizabeth Park (formerly the Olympic Park). He was not impressed.
Whether you were at the Games last summer or even if you are visiting the Queen Elizabeth Park for the first time, you’re bound to be excited. Joyous memories of Super Saturday will spring to mind, lightening your step. But as you near your destination, mounting disappointment will likely slow you down.
I found myself thinking: this can’t be it. The whole place was so…..non-descript. I began to wonder whether there is any way to keep the Legacy alive, now that the Games themselves have been and gone.
This Park – you hardly even know when you’re in it. Yes, there’s a seating area. But the view of the stadium is blocked by trees and a bridge.
Even the architectural icon is no longer iconic.
Of course you’re in prime position to view the Orbit Tower.
Lucky you.
Thank goodness there is sport itself – see above – to get us out of this place; somewhere, anywhere instead of the no-place, no-where which ‘urban planning’ locks us into otherwise.