Victor Moses’ 32-point haul could not save the Cheshire Phoenix from slipping to defeat in their final BBL regular season game.
Moses and Reggie Middleton (24 points) were in impressive form at the Newton Aycliffe Leisure Centre, but still ended up on the losing side as the Wildcats’ Ralph Bucci bagged a superb triple-double of 16 points, 14 rebounds and 13 assists.
The Nix were assured of a fifth-placed finish and play-off double-header with the Leicester Riders after they beat the Birmingham Knights last week, but the Wildcats’ victory booked them a first-ever appearance in the play-offs.
The Wildcats were out of the blocks quickly and ended the first quarter with a healthy 35-17 lead, having held a 21-point advantage at one stage with the score 31-10.
Danny Huffor high-scored for the Wildcats as he drained 27 points to help keep his side in the driving seat throughout.
After their slow start, John Lavery’s men did rally in the second, and Moses and Middleton helped to chip away at the lead, reducing it to a nine-point game at 43-34 early on, but the Wildcats put together an 8-3 run in the final minutes of the period to go in at 57-42 at the half-time break.
The Nix continued to claw at their host’s lead and reduce the arrears in the third and fourth quarters, with Dominique Coleman and Michael Creppy helping out with 15-points apiece, but it proved too little, too late as the Wildcats held on for a precious victory.
