DURHAM WILDCATS’ dominant victory over Birmingham Knights will serve as a platform to greater things, believes head coach Lee Davie.

Wildcats halted a three-game losing streak against the Knights last week, and go into a double header with Glasgow Rocks and Cheshire Phoenix with a renewed sense of purpose.

"We've been focusing on putting together 40 consistent minutes of good work and we were almost there during the Birmingham game," said Davie, whose side host Rocks at Newton Aycliffe tonight before travelling to Cheshire tomorrow.

"The win was important for us as it takes us one step closer to our goals and helps us build momentum heading into the next four games that we have keyed as 'must wins'.

"We've learnt a lot about ourselves from the previous three losses and we're looking forward to the opportunity of righting some of those wrongs over the next two weeks."

In the Rocks, Danny Huffor comes up against his old club, and Davie revealed that his guard is looking forward to renewing acquaintances with the Scottish outfit.

"I know Danny Huffor is particularly excited about facing his old team and former team-mates,” the head coach said.

"They've got a high scoring backcourt in EJ Harrison and Chez Marks, one of the league's best big guys in Daniel Northern, teaming with Fran Urli, they have been doing a great job on the offensive boards.

"Gareth Murray's a very smart player with great energy and emotion that pushes this team, and the player-coach always has his team well prepared and does a great job of running the show."

Following the Rocks game, Wildcats are planning to unsettle a new-look Phoenix roster.

Davie explained: "Cheshire have some serious offensive fire-power with a guy at each position capable of scoring 20 points.

"With them still trying to integrate their new pieces, defensively we need to make things as difficult as possible, disrupting their timing and spacing while winning the rebounding battle is going to be key.

"Offensively we need to space the floor to attack their bigs."

Meanwhile, Wildcats guard Huffor was delighted to get back to winning ways last weekend.

"It was important to us (to beat Birmingham) because we wanted to get back in that winning mentality again, especially with the upcoming stretch of games we have,” he said.

"We need to come out and play hard from the start of the game to the finish and limit their runs.

"We focus on everything but right now it's the little details, and limiting the other team's runs that are the most important things."

The Wildcats had Paul Elderkin to thank after demolishing Birmingham 115-69, with the MVP putting in a sublime shooting display, scoring 26 points to guide Durham to victory.

Many baskets were exchanged in the opening minutes as both sides managed to put points on the board tying the game at 8-8 but it was the Wildcats who gained the early lead, opening up a five-point lead after Devin Ginty hit back to back threes which spurred Durham to pursue a big run causing the Knights head coach Tony Simms to call a time-out at 22-12.

Birmingham found themselves in early foul trouble which Durham took full advantage of extending their lead and ending the third with a healthy lead at 37-19.

The lead was to extend once again in the second as the Wildcats created a 22-point gap between them and their opponents but the Knights soon picked up the intensity with Michael Gayle making amends for early mistakes narrowing the score to 49-33.

Danny Huffor was on good form to end the Knights' run and Durham comfortably closed the half leading 61-35.

Durham came flying out the blocks to start the third as a rampant run opened a 32-point lead with Paul Elderkin making 4/5 from behind the three-point line. Shortly after the Knights went on a 8-0 run themselves shorting the deficit but the run only gave the Wildcats encouragement to hold onto a steady lead on the buzzer at 83-56.

Devin Ginty claimed the first points of the final stanza with a three-pointer to stop the Wildcats offensive slump.

It was the start of the Wildcats' dominance taking their lead to a 30-point deficit at 88-58.

Despite Birmingham's efforts, the Wildcats caused more suffering for the visitors when Kirk Crecco scored on the counter to take Durham over the 100 point-mark at 100-65. Durham continued growing their lead and managed to give themselves their biggest win of the season with the score at the final buzzer 115-69.

Davie was very pleased with his side's response. "It was a great win tonight, " he said.

"The guys went out and did exactly what was expected of them and we executed well offensively which was fantastic."

Tip-off at Newton Aycliffe is 7pm, tickets are £7 for adults and £5 concessions, or £20 for a family ticket. More information is available at godurhamwildcats.com.