Just a little mid-season heat from the Wolves, despite a tough record so far, the Wolves continue to get back in the groove during a COVID-shortened season.
“Snakebit” Wolves Struggle To Find Rhythm
The Winston-Salem Wolves dropped their second home game of the season against the division rival Rowan County Bulls on Saturday, April 24, despite improved defensive effort and interior offense. The Wolves’ largest deficit was found in defending the three-point line, as the Bulls shot 39.5% from deep, led by guard Keith Gabriel’s 4-for-7 night behind the arc. Gabriel scored 21 points in the win, while fellow Bull Quiron Cook led all scorers with 22.
The Wolves saw improved offensive output from point guard Antonio Robinson and center Julius Brooks, as well as seeing the continued consistency of forward Dionte Adams. However, this could not overcome abysmal shooting from the Wolves from deep as a team and modest free throw shooting. The Wolves also suffered the loss of guard Joshea Singleton to a hand injury sustained in the team’s last game against the Carolina Chosen Lions.
The Wolves return home for a back-to-back weekend on May 1st and 2nd, facing the Fayetteville Panthers for a Saturday 8pm tip, then hosting the NC Coyotes the following day at 3pm.
Adams Returning To Form
One of the bright spots among the early season woes for the Winston-Salem Wolves has been the rapid returning-to-form of forward Dionte Adams, who struggled from the free throw line in the home opener, but returned in his second game to shoot 10-12 from the line. Adams was the second leading scorer for the Wolves in Sunday’s loss with 20 points to go with 6 rebounds.
Wolves Defensive Troubles Continue
The Winston-Salem Wolves continued to struggle in transition defense again on Sunday in a loss to the Carolina Chosen Lions 109-102 in Winterville, NC. The Wolves led briefly in the first quarter behind early offensive energy but trailed by 10 at the half. The second half saw the Wolves battle back, cutting into the lead slightly by the end of the 3rd and closing the gap to a single point in the 4th, only to suffer from continued struggles getting defensive stops in transition at key moments.
Bright spots for the Wolves were improved free throw shooting and the return of Joshea Singleton into the lineup, but the 2021 Wolves continue to search for adjustments that will allow them to return to form from their 2019 ECBL Northern Conference championship run.
The Wolves return home on April 24 to face division rival Rowan County.
Wolves Fall to Hickory on the Road
The Winston-Salem Wolves dropped their first ECBL road game of the season in a game which saw the team plagued by poor defense and lackluster offensive execution. Going into the contest, the Wolves coaching staff knew they would be shorthanded, with three of their available post players unavailable. Hickory was able to take advantage and execute more efficiently in transition to get the win.
Hickory built a lead in the first half before pulling away in the second and winning 147-116. The Wolves struggled to score for stretches during both halves and showed inconsistent defensive effort, despite glimmers of effectiveness. The lack of post play also hurt the Wolves, with Hickory outrebounding Winston-Salem 58-34, and despite being able to work the ball into the paint repeatedly in the first half, points inside were difficult to come by.
The leading scorer for the Wolves was Khadier Fulcher, guard, with 27 points, however the limited roster wasn’t enough to overcome the athleticism of Hickory.
The Wolves next look to bounce back on the road against the Carolina Chosen Lions in Winterville, NC on April 18 before returning home to face another division rival, Rowan County, on April 24 at home.
Wolves Drop Home Opener to High Point
The Winston-Salem Wolves tipped off their truncated 2021 ECBL season at home on April 10 against their newest division rival, the High Point Lycans, in front of limited media and family attendance.
The Wolves have made several roster changes since the 2020 season, including adding forward Ryan King and center Julius Brooks, in an attempt to shore up players who have moved on to foreign teams.
The Wolves enjoyed a significant rebounding advantage throughout the game, particularly on the offensive end, but while building a lead in both the first and second half, miscues at the free throw line plagued the team and allowed High Point opportunities to mount a comeback. The tale of the stats outside of the scoring tallies paints the picture: the Wolves outrebounded the Lycans 60-37 but only shot 48% from the charity stripe.
The second half saw an impressive offensive explosion from slashing wing Devin Hutchinson, who led all scorers for the game with 41 points and was critical to the High Point victory. Hutchinson struggled from outside the perimeter but was, at times, nearly unstoppable inside as the Wolves failed to adjust successfully and keep him from getting to the rim.
The Wolves led at the six minute mark in a back-and-forth affair before falling behind by 3 with 2 minutes remaining. Despite getting to the line, the Wolves’ free throw woes continued and they eventually fell to the road team, 108-97.
Home Opener: Winston-Salem Wolves vs. High Point Lycans
The Wolves open the 2021 ECBL Season April 10 with a home game against division rival High Point. While no fans are allowed at the game, the game is available live and on demand to subscribers of NetCastSports.com. Tip off for the game is 7pm ET.
Winston-Salem Wolves Return To Action April 2021
The Winston-Salem Wolves return to action April 2021! Preseason rosters will be announced late March, followed by team events in Atlanta and locally in Winston-Salem. The ECBL season for the Wolves tips off April 10, as well as additional non-league games.
During the summer, the Wolves will participate in the Triad Pro-Am, the Red Bull 3x, and the new Beast League. Stay tuned for more news in the near future!
Wolves Guard, ECBL All-Star Joshea Singleton Signs with BC Dviv of Albania
Joshea Singleton, 6’4″ guard for the Wolves and ECBL All-Star, was instrumental in the Wolves’ 2019 run to the title game and now has moved to play this winter in VBET-A (Albania) for BC Dviv. Singleton can play multiple positions including PG, SG and SF and electrified Wolves fans with his high flying dunks and smart play. Singleton is settling in with BC Dviv, scoring 22 for his new sqaud in his most recent outing.
Joshea’s games can be watched online, streaming on YouTube live and on demand form Vivaro News.
Be sure to keep up with all of the current and former Winston-Salem Wolves in the Pros!
Wolves Name Marcus Ingram as Assistant GM
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The Winston-Salem Wolves have named Marcus Ingram as Assistant General Manager for the upcoming season as the team prepares for potential games this year. Ingram will work directly with players, coaches and facilities in an organizational capacity both on and off the court.
Ingram played college basketball at Piedmont International University under head coach and former NBA star Josh Howard. Ingram also has coached as a college assistant at Carolina University and at the grassroots level. |
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