Basketball: Dan's the man as Panthers pounce; BASKETBALL: Birmingham buoyant after great effort secures first win.

Byline: By Colin Tattum

BIRMINGHAM PANTHERS 98

WORCESTER WOLVES 86

A STUNNING performance, led by the irrepressible Daniel Sandell, got Panthers their first franchise and BBL victory.

Sandell was unstoppable, pouring in 38 points, taking seven rebounds and making three steals, in a frenetic game at the Walsall sports centre, Black Country University.

And the victory was all the more sweeter as it looked pretty improbable.

Panthers somehow failed to get American Hank Rivers registered in time and without broken arm victim Chris Michaelides, suffered another blow early on.

Bryant Feggins had to be sat down after four minutes for the remainder of the game because of a calf injury.

So it was probably the smallest line-up in Birmingham pro-ball history that took on Wolves, who had opened their account the night before by beating Leicester Riders.

But Panthers' sheer speed, aggressive hustle and rebounding allied to a deadly finishing ability overwhelmed a rattled Wolves.

Panthers went 32-43 down midway through the second quarter but rallied when Sandell, Rob Paternostro (20 points) and Williamz Omope (12 rebounds) shook them to life, sparking an 8-0 run. By the half it was 46-51, and would have been much better had Panthers not missed 10 of 12 free-throws in a four-minute spell.

In the third period, Panthers went ballistic, outscoring Wolves 33-12.

A13-1 start gave them a 59-52 lead and Wolves began to lose their way and discipline.

Anthony Paez (32 points) swatted Lekan Popoola during another Panthers raid to the hoop and player-coach Skouson Harker elbowed off Cameron Wright for two unsportsmanlike fouls.

The latter saw Harker bow out on five offences and Wright then cranked it up, hitting 11 successive Panthers points in 13-1 surge, including two three-pointers, one of which bounced onto the top of the backboard and then dropped like a stone dead centre through the net to the delight of a by now frenzied crowd.

Paternostro drilled his third three of the night, off balance and falling away, to beat the buzzer, and Panthers were suddenly 79-63 to the good.

Panthers were 86-65 ahead with for minutes left on the clock and although Paez led a fightback to within eight points that caused some nerve-jangling, Sandell, Adam Williams (16 points, 11 rebounds) and Wright (15 points) got key scores to see them through.

CAPTION(S):

STUNNING PERFORMANCE... Daniel Sandell.