Raiders look to step up title chase

Plymouth Raiders will be looking to steal a march on Worcester Wolves in the pursuit of Newcastle at the top of the BBL when the pair meet this weekend.

Worcester’s title challenge was dented last week by a narrow 102-100 loss against the Eagles, although they remain second with a 12-5 record.

The Raiders though, are finely poised in third place with a 9-2 record, and they have games in hand on all of the teams around them.

It will be the sixth meeting between the sides this season, with Plymouth winning three of the previous five games, although it was Worcester who were victorious in the only league meeting to date.

Raiders coach Gavin Love is expecting another tough game.

He said: “Wolves are a good team who can hurt you in many ways. Gordon and Freeman have had good seasons thus far. Our defence is the key to this game.

“We like playing at Worcester having beaten them there twice this season by 20 plus points, if we can replicate that kind of form it will be a good game.”

Last weekend, the Raiders secured their place in the BBL Trophy Final, their second appearance at a showpiece event this season, having seen off the Wolves in the BBL Cup semi-finals before Christmas.

Wolves Director of Basketball Paul James said: “The Raiders are one of the teams this season with an abundance of talented and experienced players on the roster.

“Jeremy Bell, Anthony Rowe, Paul Williams and Lehmon Colbert have all played consistently well this season. When and if we have been able to match their inside physicality we have done well against them.”