Leeds Force 76 Worcester Wolves 101: Force fail to arrest poor run of results
Force debutant Gazmend Sinani announced himself to the Leeds crowd in perfect fashion to open the contest – swatting away Trayvon Palmer’s effort before sinking a spectacular shot.
Desperate to bounce back from their BBL Cup final defeat to underdogs Cheshire Phoenix a week ago, the ravenous Wolves charged into a six-point lead, rallying behind a pair of triples from menacing outside threat Palmer.
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Hide AdDespite Worcester’s impressive early shooting, Leeds fought back to level terms, with impressive British-American danger man Adrian Kuyinu and towering Greek forward Rafail Tsourakis’ trebles hauling Force back into contention. Leeds’ surge of momentum was quickly halted by a disastrous defensive spell to end the first segment, haemorrhaging points from long distance as the away side opened an 11-point lead.
Wolves guard George Beamon’s spectacular solo effort and a soaring slam from the unstoppable Palmer further extended Wolves’ comfortable advantage in the second period – puncturing Leeds’ hopes of earning a second win of the campaign.
A desolate seven-minute period without scoring finally came to end in the dying embers of the half – Eric Curth’s four-point salvo breathing life into the faltering Force to give Leeds a glimmer of hope heading into the second half.
Both sides ramped up the offensive pressure to begin the third period, with the resurgent Force connecting with three consecutive triples to cut Worcester’s lead to 19 with 15 minutes remaining.
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Hide AdLeeds continued to capitalise on the absence of Wolves’ defensive rock Dallin Bachynski – chipping away at Worcester’s commanding lead before a timely triple from the dependable Palmer fired the Wolves out of sight.
A scintillating offensive showing from Curth and an impactful debut from Kosovan international Sinani offered scant consolation for the struggling Force, who slumped to another frustrating BBL defeat.