IT WAS a season like no other for Worcester Wolves head coach Paul James – and one that he does not want to see repeated.

James has been coaching for more than 20 years but the 2017-18 British Basketball League campaign presented more challenges than most.

There were highlights as Wolves reached the BBL Cup final at the Arena Birmingham where they lost to Cheshire Phoenix in January and secured a place in the play-offs for the seventh successive season.

But this was overshadowed by a series of departures which threatened to derail Worcester’s season.

Jermel Kennedy was the first to leave the University of Worcester Arena in October before captain Ashton Khan made a shock exit in December – just days after leading the team to the cup final.

Having brought in Rob Gilchrist and then Michael Ojo James would have been hoping for no further disruptions.

But he was handed a double blow in March when Brandon Parrish and Elvisi Dusha resigned following a “breach of player rules”.

James was down to the bare bones at times this term as he had to call upon players from the University of Worcester on many occasions.

But with the addition of point guard George Marshall for the final run-in Wolves managed to clinch a play-off spot only fall to London Lions.

“This is my 21st year in coaching and I have never had a season like this one before,” said James.

“It was a new one for me and I don’t want to have a season like this ever again whilst I am coaching.

“It was full of challenges throughout the season so it was a case of keeping the players focused and the team winning despite everything that was going on – and playing a style of basketball that people wanted to watch.

“The support has been better than previous years so we must have been doing something right.”

Wolves ended the regular season in seventh position - their lowest finish since 2011 - but James was pleased by the way his side coped with the amount of changes.

“It was a topsy-turvy season,” James said.

“We started off slowly and then we got into a really good mind-set.

“But any time players leave and you are having to bring in new players it disrupts things and it is almost like starting all over again. I feel like we did that three or four times this season.

“When I look back at it we made the BBL Cup final and there were only a couple of games where we were well and truly beaten.

“I think we played a good style of basketball and we were one win away from finishing fourth.

“To come seventh was a little disappointing.

“But on the whole we gave it our all in every game we played.

“There were times when we only had six players due to international commitments.

“We had to deal with a lot – not only for the coaches but the players who had been here from the start and the new players who had to settle in as quickly as possible and try to make an impact.

“It was difficult for everybody.”

Wolves finished the turbulent campaign in thrilling fashion as they were edged out by Lions in a dramatic play-off tie.

Trailing by just one point after losing 85-84 in the first leg, Worcester battled bravely at The Copper Box.

But Lions won it 94-90 in double overtime.

“If there is a way to go out that might be it, but it’s still tough to take,” James added.