Under-16s through to Cup last four

Wolves under-16 boys powered their way into the National Cup semi-final with a 72-55 victory against Barking RDF, on Sunday.

A packed Oaklands saw Adam Pearce’s side trail only briefly as they blew the game open in the lead-up to half-time and will now await the draw for the last four as they look for a fifth straight home game in the competition.

Simon Patasin led the way with a 19 point, ten rebound double-double, adding three assists and two steals. Ethan Downing added 17 points, five boards, as many steals, four assists .. Abraham Ariba and Daniel Kostadinov each finished with ten points, with the former adding eight rebounds, five assists and a huge dunk in the second period which got the crowd on its feet.

Patasin scored Wolves’ first three points as they led throughout the first half without pulling away, and they went into the opening break with a 15-12 lead.

But the visitors opened the second period with an 8-4 run to take their only lead of the game before Patasin answered with five points and with Kostadinov draining a triple, Wolves never looked back.

The visitors pulled within five, but Downing and Alex Riley each scored a pair of baskets before Araba wrapped up a 10-0 run to give the hosts a 39-24 half-time lead.

Patasin and Araba each hit a basket as Wolves stretched the lead to 19 at the start of the second half, and they never looked in trouble again as they went into the final break with a 59-39 lead and despite being outscored 16-13 in the fourth quarter they closed out the game and a place in the last four.

Earlier in the day Wolves U-14 girls continued their good start to the season with a 94-17 victory against Braintree Blue Devils.

Emerson Westerby’s side never looked back after a 26-0 first period and had put 40 points in the board by the time Devils got off the mark. Wolves led 44-2 going into the half-time break before outscoring the short-handed visitors 20-8 in the third quarter and 30-7 in the fourth.

Kaiya Bateman led Wolves with a season-high 26 points, with Paris Tyson also having her highest score of the season with 22, and Lila Birtwisle adding 14,