WORCESTER Wolves’ recent good run of form came to a shuddering halt with an error-strewn defeat at Sheffield Sharks.
Eighteen turnovers and haphazard shooting saw Wolves fall 75-55 behind with five minutes to play before a late revival gave respectability to the scoreline in their eventual 76-69 setback.
Jordan Williams slotted in Worcester’s opening four points and twice fed Amir Williams for an 8-7 lead. Cortez Edwards slashed past defenders to keep his side 10-9 ahead four minutes into the evening.
But this was to be the last time that Sheffield would trail, slotting in seven unanswered points for a 23-14 first quarter advantage.
Maarten Bouwknecht was dispossessed as he brought the ball up court, both Williams threw passes to Sharks players or to empty spaces and Edwards had control stolen, allowing the hosts to stretch to a 41-28 half-time lead.
Another wayward pass signalled Wolves reappearance after the interval. Sheffield’s veteran captain Mike Tuck drained his team’s seventh three-pointer of the night just before Mark Hughes contrastingly brought up a barren ten from ten long-range misses for Worcester.
Sharks looked comfortable at 46-34 before a Jordan William’s lay-up and a baseline drive lessened the arrears to 46-40 midway through the third period.
However, normal service was once more resumed as Sheffield reignited their sharpshooting to pull away to 62-44 command entering the last quarter.
Kofi Josephs finally got a triple to fall and promptly sank a couple more. Julius Van Sauers and Raheem May-Thompson also now engaged on offense – briefly threatening Sharks’ dominance before time ran out.
Fifteen points for Jordan Williams and a dozen apiece from Josephs and Edwards were the visitors’ only double-digit scorers.
Wolves will be hoping to return to winning ways with a Valentine’s Day date with Plymouth Raiders at the University of Worcester Arena on Friday (7.30pm).