Basketball
Wolves suffer agonising defeat

Buy photos » Tommy Freeman's 26 points proved not enough last Friday as Wolves lost to Sheffield Sharks for the second time this season. Picture by Keith Hunt.

WORCESTER Wolves' title hopes took a major dent when a basket in the dying seconds earned Sheffield Sharks a thrilling single-point victory.

Incredibly, it is the second time this season the Sharks have beaten Wolves by just a single point as Jimmy Langhurst's basket with seven seconds left proved decisive and inflicted a heartbreaking defeat on Paul James' side.

Richie Gordon opened the scoring for the visitors at the English Institute of Sport arena but the hosts then dominated with Zach Gachette and Langhurst dictating play as Sharks led 25-13 at the end of the first quarter.

Things got even worse for Wolves in the second period when Gordon had to leave the court for committing three fouls. But Lithuanian Arnas Kaslauskas stepped up the scoring to bring Wolves back into the match as they trailed 42-37 at half time.

The second half began with a Gordon rebound to tighten the visitors deficit but former Worcester ace Justin Dobbins scored three consecutive baskets to put the Sharks back in control.

Midway through the final period Sherrad Prezzie-Blue complete a wonderful turnaround and drew the visitors level before Tommy Freeman netted with 21 seconds left to give Wolves a slender 73-72 lead.

But a quick two-point basket reply from Langhurst saw Sharks go back ahead prompting a Worcester time-out with just seven seconds left on the clock.

The dying seconds saw controversy as Wolves head coach Paul James was left fuming after his side were denied foul shouts when he believed Kazlauskas was fouled when going for a dramatic winning basket.

But referee Neil Wilkinson refused to give a foul and blew the final whistle to seal a memorable win for Sheffield to follow their one-point win against Wolves back in November.

Wolves remain second in the BBL Championship but are now four points behind leaders Newcastle Eagles.