BBL: Heat bounce back with nail biting win

Surrey Heat bounced back to winning ways in thrilling fashion after a last-gasp score by Chavis Holmes helped secure a hard-fought and memorable success against Worcester Wolves.

Having suffered their first defeat of the season against London Lions 48 hours earlier, it had looked as if Heat were going to cruise to victory against the Wolves having led for the majority of the game but, a final quarter onslaught from the visitors leveled the game.

Refusing to succumb to the pressure, Heat fought through to continue their impressive start to the season.

Their third win of the campaign was by far the most exciting and head coach Creon Raftopoulos will be particularly happy how his team managed to keep their composure and wrestle back the initiative at the death, just when it looked like the momentum was most definitely with the Wolves.

Having moved 22-17 in front after the first quarter, Heat retained control during the middle two quarters and still led by as many as 12 points early in the fourth period.

However, Wolves’ giant Lithuanian Arturas Masiulis was determined to help his team launch a stunning comeback and his fellow countryman Arnas Kazlauskas eventually levelled the scores at 69-69 with 17 just seconds remaining but they couldn’t finish the job.

Stanley Ocitti pulled down 16 rebounds for Wolves but endured a miserable shooting night whilst game winner Holmes and Sam Cricelli both excelled for the hosts with the former grabbing 19 points, seven rebounds and four steals and the latter finishing with a fine double-double of 19 points and 11 rebounds.

Surrey Heat 71 (22,41,60) (C.Holmes 19, Cricelli 19, McLemore 12)

Worcester Wolves 69 (17,32,50) (Masiulis 18, Kazlauskas 14, Fernandez 13)