04-Oct.; 11-Oct.; 18-Oct.; 25-Oct.; 01-Nov.; 08-Nov.; 15-Nov.; 29-Nov.; 6-Dec.; 13-Dec.; 24-Jan.; 31-Jan.; 14-Feb.; 21-Feb.;

 

W/e 14th March 2010

 

W/e 7th March 2010

 

W/e 28th February 2010

Tees Valley Sonics 74-66 Middlesbrough Lions

Middlesbrough Lions played one of their games of the season when they travelled the short distance to University of Teesside to play local rivals, Tees Valley Sonics and gave up a 10pt lead in the third quarter to lose out 74-66.

The game began with a trademark fast break from Steve Butler, but Lions responded immediately with a 3-pointer from Damian Warriner. Lions then took the lead through big Dean Hanson after a well worked spin move. The lead then switched hands five times with James Burton connecting on two 3-pointers to give Sonics the edge. Lions’ Hanson was proving his value as the 7 footer made two more baskets late in the quarter. Two late baskets from Luke Thompson and Tyrone Thomas lifted the Sonics spirits toward the end of the quarter as the led 19-15.

Lions were not yet in full gear which gave them hope being only 4pts down. Coach Sid Nicholls called for composure and to ‘threaten the basket’ when with the ball. Unfortunately for Lions it was Sonics who came out more aggressive and in the first three minutes produced an 8-2 run with Lee Norton the only provider for Lions from a smooth drive, a call for the foul, dismissed by the referees. Middlesbrough then closed the gap to 5pts with Warriner bursting forward for a lay up and Norton hitting a big 3-pointer. Lions were now settling into their rhythm and Nigerian, Acho Anyigbo provided the team with a boost when he produced a nice block and followed up on offence with an athletic leap to the basket. On the next play Anyigbo was fouled on the shot and went to the line to convert 1 of 2 attempts. The lead was now down to 6pts, 31-25.

A great cut from Michael Thompson found an equally great pass from Lee Woolams in the sixth minute as Thompson finished the move with a lay up. A brave call by player/coach James Thomson placed all three big men on the court with Anyigbo, Marshall and Hanson using their big frames to unsettle the Sonics passing. With two minutes til half time Burton made a big 3-pointer to take Sonics 11pts clear but Lions never looked out of it as they clawed back to within 6pts via Marshall, Norton and Anyigbo. At the half time buzzer, Sonics were a nose in front 38-32 with Lions feeling their best was still to come.

The best soon came as Lions opened the third quarter in blistering fashion as Hanson continued his superb form by blocking Sonics player/coach Butler. Hanson and Norton would then combine on offence as the Lions produced a 13-2 run to take a 2pt lead 45-40. Middlesbrough’s defence is becoming recognised as at times one of the best in the league and for seven minutes the Sonics were held to just one basket from the under used Luke Thompson.

Just when things were going well for Lions, the Sonics blushes were rescued by a trio of 3-pointers with Burton and Michael Thompson saving the day. As Sonics stuttered back to life, Anyigbo stepped up for Middlesbrough after being fouled by Dimitri Antilatzidis for the And 1 play which the influential Anyigbo converted the bonus shot for a 4pt lead. Two free throws from Antilatzidis cut this to a 2pt game going into the final quarter with the 51-53 score line favouring Lions.

This local derby was turning into one of the most exciting games of the season as Lions’ Norton hit a 3 followed by a Burton 3 for Sonics. Woolams then found the target with a powerful play inside the key matched by a clever play from Anyigbo at the other end of the court. Lions were still comfortable until the third minute when a two minute mental block allowed an 8-0 run by Sonics. Michael Thompson hitting 6pts. Anyigbo halted the run and Warriner drove to the basket strong but a barrage a hasty shots would not connect for Lions, leaving the Middlesbrough side needing to foul the Sonics in the final minute. Thomas and Butler held their nerve during this period to convert 7 of 8 attempts from the line and seal a 74-66 win.

After a return from injury Dean Hanson showed his true potential with a superb and determined display. Fellow big man, Andrew Marshall was also in top form with some big rebounds. Marshall, Anyigbo and Hanson combined for 14, 11 & 11 rebounds respectively to dominate the boards. Hanson and Anyigbo also collected 3 blocks apiece. A Lions win would have guaranteed a joint MVP award for Hanson and Marshall however the award would go to Sonics James Burton.

Burton, Thompson and Butler were all candidates but with 18pts from 60% 3pt shooting, 3 rebounds & 2 assists Burton stood out as Mr reliable. Butler and Thompson were let down slightly with 12 of 28 and 8 of 23 shooting respectively.

Top scorers

Sonics: Burton 18, Butler 18, Thompson M 18, Thomas 7, Woolams 5, Thompson L 4

Lions: Norton 18, Anyigbo 16, Warriner 15, Hanson 10, Marshall 7

W/e 21st February 2010

Middlesbrough Lions 79-73 Liverpool

Middlesbrough Lions made it two wins in a row with the season double over Liverpool in the National League. A good crowd turned out to cheer the Lions to a 6pt victory and they were treated to blasts of brilliance and at other times some frustrating periods as the Middlesbrough side tempted fate by not putting the game beyond the visitors when they had opportunities. Instead of building a 20+ lead which looked likely in the early stages, Lions seemed destined to keep the game exciting for the fans.

The game started with new captain, Damian Warriner converting a fast break lay up and within seconds Lions were 5-0 up after Ryon Dixon hit a trademark 3-pointer. Niall Mullen was a known threat for Liverpool and he set into his stride early on with a clever move inside the key. Lions defence though was smothering as Warriner, Dixon and Thomson worked tirelessly to force Liverpool into a number of mistakes. In the third minute, Dixon picked the pocket of John Lavery and continued to the basket for the easy bucket. Player/coach James Thomson then got in on the act with a strong drive and a well timed 3-pointer to take a 12-6 lead. Warriner disappointed with three missed lay ups which could have increased the lead but made amends with his defensive tenacity. Youngster; Jordan Nicholls entered the game for Lions and hit a 3-pointer while big Dean Hanson finished off the quarter for Lions with a strong cut to the basket off a Dixon pass. A late 3-pointer from Mullen would remind the home team not too relax, although the Lions were well in charge 23-15.

The second quarter witnessed a terrible start for Lions as Mullen inspired an 11-3 run to shock Middlesbrough into an early time out. With the scores now at 28-28 Liverpool were gaining momentum and whilst the Lions never looked likely to lose, they would submit their lead as in the ninth minute a 3-pointer from Alan Hardman would take the scores to 32-33. Lee Norton converted two free throws and Rob Parsons grabbed a last second rebound for the put back to put Lions 3pts ahead at half time, 33-36.

Middlesbrough resumed normal service in the third quarter as they outscored Liverpool 23-15. Dean Hanson in only his second game after a 10 week injury lay off was again proving his value as the big 7 footer controlled the defence as his big frame changed opposition shots. Hanson made an impressive 3 blocks in the game and joined in the offence with Lee Norton to form an 8-0 run. Mullen was again the problem for Lions as the Liverpool forward plundered points inside the paint. Lavery was also useful on the perimeter as the veteran nailed two 3-pointers, which from Lions perspective were cancelled out by Norton’s brace of 3’s. In similar fashion Parsons would again grab the rebound and put back in the final seconds to produce the 11pt lead, 48-59.

Andrew Marshall opened the third quarter with a powerful move to the hoop and this was followed by shots from Norton and Nicholls to take the largest lead of the game at 17pts. Still, Lions could not contain Mullen as he halted Lions run with 6pts of his own. The lead was then cut to 10 after a big 3-pointer from veteran guard Mark Jones. The game would finish in frantic fashion as Liverpool produced a 12-4 run to take the shine of what should have been a more flattering victory for Middlesbrough.

Niall Mullen was the danger man for Liverpool, top scoring with 30pts and was a strong candidate for MVP but with 29pts, 7 rebounds & 3 assists, Lions guard Lee Norton was awarded the honour.

Middlesbrough continue to put pressure on Stockport for 7th place. Lions are just 4pts behind the Falcons after they lost 90-64 at Durham Wildcats. Lions have three away games left at TV Sonics, Durham and Reddish Rebels and will be hoping to take at least 4pts from a possible 6. Stockport have difficult games away to Hull, Bury and Huddersfield giving Lions a strong chance of pipping their rivals.

Top scorers

Lions: Norton 29, Dixon 11, Thomson 8, Warriner 8, Nicholls 7, Parsons 6

Liverpool: Mullen 30, Sahel 14, Jones 12

 

W/e 14th February 2010

Hull Wasps 69-63 Middlesbrough Lions

Middlesbrough Lions 67-57 Stockport Falcons

Middlesbrough Lions enjoyed a good weekend with one of the most exciting games away to Hull on Saturday followed by a 10pt win at home to Stockport on Sunday.

Middlesbrough are proving to be the big draw despite their poor league position as a record 750 fans turned up to see the Lions visit the Gemtec Arena in Hull. Hull director, David Bushnell added “We usually have 150-200 in attendance but today we had 750.”

Lions are proving an attraction around the country despite picking up only their fourth win on Sunday. Middlesbrough chief, James Thomson said “We are pleased with our progress off the court and are establishing ourselves as a professionally run high profile sports club. Our results though have not been good, despite playing well more often than not and we must remember we are still finding our feet in first season of National League.”

Hull were hoping for an exciting game to entertain the large crowd and Lions gave them exactly that as James Thomson replied to Wasps opening basket with a lay up then a 3 pointer. Lions Damian Warriner then burst into life as he drew 5 fouls to put the Wasps into foul trouble. Warriner struggled from the line however making 6 of 14 for the night. Jamie Goodwin believed he had given the home side the edge in the last two minutes with two lay ups to give his team a 16-12 lead. Lions though responded well with two free throws from Lee Norton and a last second shot from Acho Anyigbo to tie the game.

In the second quarter, Rob Parsons kept Lions momentum moving forward with two baseline jumpers though Jason Munro converted two free throws and then Kamil Piarski drew level with a long range shot. The introduction of Michael Peddie was an inspired one as the diminutive guard plundered 6pts in less than two minutes to instigate a 14-3 run for the Lions taking the score to 27-36 in favour of Middlesbrough. A lapse in concentration afforded Wasps with two late baskets but at half time Middlesbrough were still in front by 5pts, 31-36.

The third quarter was the problem for Lions as they lost the period 22-16. Warriner hit a 3 early on and despite a good run from Wasps in the fourth minute as Adrian Blatherwick hit a 3 pointer followed by another from Matthew Fawcett, Lions had lost their lead but only by 1pt, 43-42. Anyigbo and Warriner snatched that back almost immediately with some good driving. Hull were struggling to contain Lions inside play as they picked up a lot of fouls. Both teams continued to string together little runs of baskets and by the end of the third quarter Hull had given their fans hope with a slender 1pt lead, 53-52.

Blatherwick nailed a 3 pointer in the first minute, but Lions fired back a tough shot from Anyigbo. Birchmore hit only his first basket, which was surprising for the normally potent player and Munro followed in with a lay up but Anyigbo took the game by the scruff of the neck as he produced 8pts to bring Lions within 2pts with just one minute remaining. Lee Norton who had been quiet then hit a jump shot from the top of the key to tie the game, 62-62 only for Wasps Captain, Jamie Goodwin to knock down a similar shot. With 30 seconds remaining Lions still had a chance with Warriner going to the line twice after being fouled on the drive. The crowd though were electrifying and Warriner only managed 1 of 4 attempts while Anyigbo missed both his. For the Wasps Blatherwick hit a fast break and Pilarski killed the game with a big 3 pointer to seal a memorable win for their great fans.

Lions welcomed Stockport to Eston Sports Academy for the rearranged fixture. Lions were intent on winning this game, being a close rival in league positions and also after losing the away fixture after such a gallant performance with just 5 players.

Unfortunately the first quarter was not the ideal start for Lions. Damian Warriner opened affairs with a powerful lay up but this was cancelled out by two free throws from Kelvin Cole after being fouled by Rob Parsons. Acho Anyigbo then hit a turn around jump shot but Stockport went one better as Hilliard and Wilson gave the visitors the lead. Andrew Marshall used his 6’10 frame well in the next play as he powered to the basket for 2pts, the defence for Lions though was proving a concern, especially as the Falcons produced a 13-0 run inspired by 6pts from Foster.

Anyigbo halted the run with a close range shot and to finish the quarter a good pass from Warriner found Lee Norton open for the 3 pointer. Lions had a lot to do if as they found themselves down 11-22.

A more determined approach from Lions had little effect to the margin in the second quarter as Warriner drew first blood with a lay up. The strength of character from the visitors though was impressive as Cole hit two 3’s in the first four minutes. A 3 from Lions’ Norton and another strong move from Marshall brought Lions within 10pts, 20-30. If Lions were to reduce their deficit they would have to pull together, however this would not happen as a 3 pointer from Wilson in the eighth minute finished another 7-0 run for Falcons to take them 17 ahead. Ryon Dixon lightened the blushes of Lions late on in the half as he hit a long range basket followed by a 3 to take Lions into half time down by 12, 25-37.

Early in the third quarter, Falcons captain, Neil Wilson twisted his ankle under the basket and would take no further part in the game. In the sixth minute and down by 15pts Lions finally woke up as Dixon turned the game with two big 3’s to give the team and home fans some hope. In the third minute Michael Peddie was grabbed intentionally as he went for a lay up by Alleyne and the result left Peddie with an awkward landing. Peddie would have to be replaced by Warriner after hurting his hip. A few minutes later the introduction of Luis Ware brought some composure to the Lions and he found Warriner in the final seconds of the quarter to bring the team within 6pts. A last gasp shot from Foster would find the target to bring back an 8-0 lead, 40-48 for the visitors but the momentum was now firmly with the Lions and they were eager to start the final quarter.

In the final quarter Warriner converted a jump shot in a crowd and this was followed by a 3 from Norton. Stockport could only manage a single free throw from 6 attempts and in the fourth minute another 3 from Dixon gave Middlesbrough the lead for the first time since the third minute of the first quarter.

Ware then picked the pocket of Johnson and continued for the easy lay up. Dean Hanson, Lions 7’1 centre had played superb throughout the third quarter and most of fourth collecting 2 major blocks, one actually pinning Foster to the backboard. With five minutes remaining Coach Thomson and Nicholls were reluctant to disrupt the team momentum and with two minutes to go Middlesbrough were leading by 15pts, 65-50. A small lapse in the final minute gave Stockport two easy baskets and over the season the fourth quarter has been a problem for Middlesbrough as they always seem to dip in form allowing the opposition to take victory. Today Lions finally buried that ghost as they produced a 27-9 period for an almost perfect quarter as Lions picked up a valuable 2pts from a team just above them in the league.

 

W/e 31st January 2010

Heat Reach Perfect 10

Huddersfield Heat made it 2 wins out of 2 for the weekend, and moved on to a perfect 10 and 0 record following their 93-69 home and 90-75 away wins against Middlesbrough Lions, on Sunday afternoon at Eston Sports Academy.

The Heat began the home fixture in sluggish fashion, with the visitors taking an early 8-11 lead. The Heat were showing a lack of intensity on both ends of the floor, and this enable the Lions to trade baskets and keep the scores tight. Forward Kyle Styan was the early starrer with 8 points in the quarter, with some effective low post moves. The quarter would end 20-19, a narrow lead for the home side. At the start of the second period, the Heat seemed to awaken and get themselves focused. Jason Swaine began his long range attack, with 8 consecutive points including two threes. The home side began to exert their dominance on the boards, with bigger size of the Heat proving more effective. A late rally by the Lions kept the scores in touch at the half 46-34. The visitors would rally in the third, upping their defensive intensity restricting the Heat to trading scores and again a late rally would keep Middlesbrough in touch with the scores at 65-54.

With the Heat sensing the time to finish the game, it was time for the Heat's reserves to contribute and complete the job. Guards Luke Stanger and Toby Simons came in to finish a solid performance with scores at the end of the quarter capping a 10-2 run, the leave the final score with a 24 point difference to the home team. Jason Swaine again led the Heat with 37 points, backed up Kyle Styan's 20 points and Eugene Andrews' 16 points.

 

There would be no slow start for the Heat at Middlesbrough the day after as they raced to an early 20-9 lead. Centre Joel Treen and forward Kyle Styan would set the tone with a commanding rebounding display which then enabled the visitors to get their fast break game going early. Jason Swaine would score 10 of his personal 28 during this first run. Lee Norton kept his side in touch towards the end of the quarter, ending with a 5 point lead to the Heat, 19-24. The second quarter was a more disjointed affair, with lots of turnovers by both sides, mostly capitalised on by the home team who saw their chance to apply some pressure. The Lions were to rally and win the second period 18-13, to leave the sides separated by 1 point at the break, 37-38 to the Heat.

The home side would continue their strong play and with 3 minutes gone in the third would take the lead in the match 47-44. Peddie and Dixon scored 4 consecutive baskets to give the home side renewed hope. However, the Heat and in particular Jason Swaine were not going to let this happen. Swaine scored 15 out the Heat's next 19 points to swing the game back towards the Heat, with the scores 67-62 at the end of the quarter. In the final quarter it was player-coach Eduardo Perez that made his mark on the game. He scored 13 points, including 3 threes, in 8 minutes to ensure the win would be going back with the league leaders to Huddersfield. Strong continued play from Treen and Eugene Andrew would close out the game 90-75 to the Heat. The Heat were led by Swaine's 28 points, and a double double from centre Joel Treen with 14 points and 16 rebounds. A strong Heat scoring performance saw 5 players hit double figures. 

"I think today we were a little inconsistent in our play on Saturday, and possibly had an eye on the return game. I think that was reflected in the performance today. As we near the most important part of our season, we must really try to turn it up a notch, and see where this group can really get to. However, all in all, I am extremely pleased with this weekend's work. A double header weekend is always difficult for a number of reasons, and I am really pleased with the way the guys came through that. On a personal note, I am happy with my play today, as it was long overdue to be honest, and it felt good to contribute again. I also thought Joel was outstanding on Sunday, and shows how much he has improved this year."

W/e 24th January 2010

EBL Division Four North           

Huddersfield Heat   27   29   15   27   98

Wirral Hornets        22   12   23   17   74

Heat Down The Hornets

Huddersfield Heat put on their best performance of the season in their 98-74 home win against the Wirral Hornets. This win keeps the Heat in 1st place in the division. The game began at a high tempo with both teams scoring freely. For the visitors, Parker made an impressive start, netting 11 of his teams 16 points at the start, scoring with strong moves down low. The Heat in contrast got their running game into gear early with guards Eugene Andrew and Jonathan Woodward scoring several uncontested layups in the quarter, which was to finish 27-22 to the home side.

In the second quarter, the Heat began to combine offensive efficiency with defensive intensity. Huddersfield's big men began to dominate the boards at both ends of the floor, and second chance opportunities began to dry up for the visitors. Jason Swaine started his assault on the Wirral defence, with 13 of his game high 39 points coming in this quarter. A perfect quarter for the Heat was rounded off as Player Coach Eduardo Perez made a buzzer beating three to leave the half time score at 56-34.

In the third quarter, a tough Wirral side emerged from the locker room, starting the quarter with a 14-8 run that brought the scores closer. A few unforced turnovers by the Heat at this stage disrupted their play which had been fluid so far. The Hornets Chris Whitehead scored 11 of his 15 points during that run, that left the score at the end of the third at 71-57.In the final quarter, the Heat picked up the play from the first half, with Andrew and Swaine scoring at will again. The Heat scored 4 of their 8 threes for the game during the final minutes to finish off the challenge from a tough Wirral side. Swaine led all scorers with 39 points and 11 assists, with Andrew netting 22 and Woodward 15.

Player-Coach Eduardo Perez was a pleased man after this performance:

"The first half today was some of the best basketball we have seen all season from the guys. I thought our big guys Kyle, Joel and Krzysztof did a very solid job on the boards which enabled us to get our fast break game going early. It was very good to see, although we still need to iron out those lapses of concentration where we give teams some hope of getting back into games. I think also Wirral deserve a lot of credit, as i think lesser teams would not have carried on like they did in the second half."

W/e 13th December 2009

Middlesbrough Lions 115-73 Reddish Rebels

Middlesbrough Lions made it back to back wins and in emphatic fashion as they hit the league’s highest score with 115pts over the Reddish Rebels at Eston Sports Academy. Lions have finally found their form in recent weeks and this performance sent a clear message around the league for anyone that still held doubts after their tricky start. Lions were still without a number of players including twin towers, Hanson and Marshall but every Middlesbrough player stepped up with 6 players scoring double figure points.

Lions jumped ahead in the first play as Acho Anyigbo passed to Damian Warriner for the easy bucket. David Priestman replied instantly for Reddish, but Warriner was not to be out done as he drove through a crowd for his 4th point. In the fourth minute Lions were 1pt ahead but this would be extended dramatically as James Thomson nailed two consecutive 3 pointers to inspire a 14-2 run with only Barry Plummer responding for Rebels.

Anyigbo was pivotal in the first quarter as he drew three fouls from Reddish danger man; Plummer which resulted in the big man taking an early break. Anyigbo would make 3 of 4 from the line to extend the lead to 14. At the end of the quarter a basket apiece from Lions Thomson and Rebels big man; Ash Read took the scores to 27-14 in favour of the home team.

Utility man; Rob Parsons was on hand to make a nice jump shot followed by a great reverse lay up after the nice pass from Anyigbo. Lee Norton was also continuing his current good form as last games top scorer turned provider with 5 assists already. As Middlesbrough stretched their lead to 16pts the deflated Rebels found a spark with Steve Harrison making a 3 pointer though the spark would be extinguished when Norton rained in a brace of 3 pointers. Parsons continued to impress with another basket and two free throws and by the sixth minute Lions were storming ahead 43-17. The Rebels had no answer for Middlesbrough and despite a spirited performance led by some nice blocks from Plummer, which was admirable considering their predicament, they would find further trouble coming their as Anyigbo, Warriner and Norton combined to push Lions into a commanding 30pt lead. 5pts including a nice 3 pointer from Dixon would give Lions their biggest lead of the game at 35 although a last gasp shot from Phil Lane earned the visitors the last points of the half to take the score to 56-24.

Lions suffered a blip in the third quarter and had to rely on five 3 pointers to save face as the visitors managed to equal the 25pts Lions would hit. Plummer, who had been contained to just 4pts in the first quarter awoke with determination as the big man amassed 15pts including another 2 blocks. Warriner was Lions best player in the third with 9pts including a huge 3 pointer from 6 feet behind the line. The concern was after hitting only 24pts in the first two quarters, the Rebels had now hit 25 in just one. Lions coach; Simon Nicholls was quick to explain saying “We switched our defence to try some new tactics and although Rebels took advantage, it was important for us to explore different options and test our character.”

The final quarter was again fairly even with Warriner and Norton pitting their wits against Alex McGill in the early exchanges. In the fourth minute Reddish produced their biggest unanswered run of 5pts, but a halt was quickly called as Thomson made a lay up followed by a cool finish from Warriner as the strong guard powered to the basket. Norton hit another big 3 in the seventh minute and took the Lions over the hundred mark with a drive through three defenders. Plummer maintained his impressive presence with another two baskets but with two minutes left, there was little the Rebels could do, especially when 15 year old duo, Marshall Patterson and Jordan Nicholls entered the game with the former hitting a 3 and Nicholls first mark being a rebound and put back. In the last shot of the game, Norton finished a difficult reverse lay up to earn the Lions the honour of scoring the highest number of points in a game this season at 115.

In the chase for honours, the MVP could have gone to a number of Lions and special mention must be made to an inspirational display by Rebels Plummer who hit 25pts, 7 rebounds & 5 blocks. Lions own blocking machine, Anyigbo, was just outdone, finishing with 4, but he collected an incredible 17 rebounds, 5 steals & 6 assists along with his 16pts. Warriner, Parsons, Dixon Thomson added 23, 16, 11 & 10pts respectively with Thomson adding another 6 assists and if this wasn’t enough Lee Norton not only top scored with 30pts but gained an incredible 10 assists for the double-double along with 6 steals. With such a close call between Norton and Anyigbo for the MVP, a closer inspection of the stats would give Anyigbo the slightest of nods ahead as the Nigerian star was 100% from floor shooting and 60% from the line. His rebounds, steals, assists & blocks were incredible and it’s not often a player who hits 30pts & 10 assists will be outshined.

Top scorers

Lions: Norton 30, Warriner 23, Anyigbo 16, Parsons 14, Dixon 11, Thomson 10

Rebels:  Plummer 25, Priestman 16, Yates 8, Lane 6, Read 6

 

Heat Continue Undefeated Run

Stockport Falcons II   20   21   12   27   80

Huddersfield Heat    29   17   20   21   87

Huddersfield Heat remained unbeaten in EBL Division 4, and climbed back up to third in the table, following a 80-87 away win at Stockport Falcons II on Saturday night. This win keeps the Heat in contention for the top league places in the division.

The Heat went into this game following some inconsistent performances of late, and player-coach Eduardo Perez was looking for a much improved performance from his side. Huddersfield did just that, starting strong on the defensive end and immediately begining to score at will against their opponents. The Heat burst into a quick 12-6 lead, with 6 points from Kyle Styan, and 3 a piece from Jason Swaine and Perez. The Falcons tried to remain in touch, but by the end of the quarter the Heat outscored them 29-20, including 3 threes for Swaine, out of his team's 5 for the quarter. The Heat continued their strong play in the second period, with 8 straight points from Cyrus Dennis, which pushed the lead to 15, 24-39. The teams continued to trade baskets, until a late run by the Falcons of 12-2 at the end of the half brought the scores closer to 41-46.

At the start of the third, the Heat once again started firing with 10 un-answered points, to once again push the lead up to 15, 41-56. A spirited Stockport side never gave up and continued to claw back points at any possible opportunity they could, with Briscoe and Atkinson keeping the home team in touch at the end of this period, 53-66. The fourth quarter would start with former England international Swaine on fire as he drained another 3 three pointers to give the Heat their largest lead of the game, 19, at 64-83. With the result decided, Stockport were able to reduce the difference in the scores, to leave the game at 80-87 and a 7th straight win for the Heat in the league.

Player-Coach Eduardo Perez commented:

"Today was a much more improved performance, in particular on the offensive end, and a lot of our play was of a high quality. I was especially happy with the way we moved the ball and how we executed our fast break today. The only disappointing thing from our perspective was the loose balls we lost at the end which allowed them to close the gap in the scores. I thought Jason (Swaine) and Kyle (Styan) were outstanding today, and the rest of the players contributed well today."

The Heat now have a well earned rest over the Christmas period and prepare for games in January. The Heat were also boosted by the news that fellow unbeaten team Bury Blue Devils slipped up at home to Team Durham II, leaving Huddersfield as the only remaining undefeated team in Division 4 North.

W/e 6th December 2009

EBL Division Four North   1   2   3   4   Final Score

Reddish Rebels   27   6   17   19   69

Huddersfield Heat    14   33   23   18   88

Huddersfield carried on their winning form, and maintained their perfect league record away to Reddish Rebels on Sunday. With this win, the Heat move to a 6-0 record in Division 4 of the English Basketball League.

Both teams went into this game with different priorities. The Heat were looking to keep up with league pace-setters Bury, whilst the Rebels were looking to improve on their solitary win this season. The Heat made a slow start to the game, a trend of late, and quickly found themselves 7-2 down, with only Jason Swaine on the scoresheet. Suffering from a lack of intensity and focus on the defensive end, the only bright spot was centre Joel Treen's five consecutive points that kept the teams close. Another burst of scoring from Reddish, pushed their lead up to 11, which was then brought back with Player-Coach Eduardo Perez's first three pointer of the game. The first quarter finishing with a 27-14 lead to the home side.

The second quarter was to provide a true reflection of the Heat's capabilities this season. Huddersfield's offence and defence began to function and immediately put the Rebels under constant pressure. In the first five minutes the Heat put together a 16-2 run with 8 points from Swaine, and another 3 pointer from Perez. Forward Kyle Styan began to dominate the boards, and continued to score freely in the post, with Eugene Andrew providing great support with 8 points in the quarter. The Heat would be leading going into the half-time break, 33-47.

Going into the third quarter, the Heat continued to play solid basketball. Guard Rob Fairley, would come to life in this quarter, scoring 11 of his season high 17 points. Reddish continued to push, restraining the Heat's lead to 20 by the end of the quarter, 50-70. The final quarter followed the same pattern, with both teams trading baskets, the match ending 69-88 to the Heat. The Heat were lead by double-doubles from Kyle Styan (18 points & 11 rebounds) and Jason Swaine (14 points & 10 assists), together with Fairley's 17 points.

Player-Coach Eduardo Perez was satisfied with win, if not all aspects of the performance:

"Whilst we have come here and done what we set out to do which was win the game, I'm really not happy with many things today. We were too slow starting today, and defensively we seemed a step off the pace today for long periods. We struggled for long periods on offence, but i don't think this was helped by us having a bad shooting day today. I was pleased with the way we applied ourselves to turn things round in the 2nd but thats about it to be honest. The players know they weren't at their best today, and we're looking forward to training this week to put things right. On an individual note i was very pleased with Kyle and Rob's performances today."

 

Sublime Norton Fires Lions To Victory

Merseyside Spartans 62-88 Middlesbrough Lions

Middlesbrough Lions picked up a precious 2pts after beating Merseyside Spartans by 26pts in Liverpool last Sunday. The result coincided with the return of captain Acho Anyigbo from an ankle injury and a sublime performance from Lee Norton.

The league’s bottom side would be no walk over though and initially it was Lions who were put under pressure as Kyle Simister and the impressive Matthew Allerston led the way for Liverpool. The Spartans were a big team with a clear height and power advantage over a Lions team without their twin towers of Dean Hanson and Andrew Marshall.

For Lions, no player scored more than one basket in the first quarter and while Middlesbrough were napping Allerston and Simister combined for 9 & 8pts respectively to earn a 24-11 lead.

Early in the second quarter Lee Norton found the target with two successive 3 pointers, followed by a third after a Rob Parsons rebound and put back to bring the Lions within 6pts, though the threat of Simister was still active. It is not often that Lions are out rebounded but in this game the visitors were struggling with boxing out proving especially difficult. In the sixth minute Essa lined up a 3 pointer for the Spartans to extend the lead to 10pts, 34-24. A quick response followed as Warriner, Anyigbo and Peddie found the target but a costly foul on Warriner would send Allerston to the line for three free throws after being fouled on a 3 point shot attempt. Allerston converted 2 of 3 and then followed the miss with a rebound and another 2pts. At the end of the half, Middlesbrough were trailing the Spartans 31-41.

Although Lions had won the second quarter 17-20 their defence lacked intensity and even the simple things such as boxing out and rebounding were lacking conviction. If Middlesbrough were to turn this game around they would have to start showing it.

In the third quarter two consecutive 3’s from Ryon Dixon proved the turning point as Lions finally broke that 6pt cushion ad despite Allerston and Essa making a lay up and a 3 pointer respectively there was an air of confidence in Lions approach and in the last four minutes they outscored the hosts 18-3 to take a 7pt lead. Rob Parsons Acho Anyigbo played well at both ends but a shooting lesson from Lee Norton including three long range 3’s, one with a defender on top of him was the highlight of the game. With one quarter remaining, Lions now led 50-57 and managed a 26pt haul in this period whilst also restricting the opponents to just 9pts.

The pendulum had now swung firmly in the direction of Middlesbrough and Norton would continue his hot streak with another 3 and a lay up for his 14th straight point. Parsons, who was enjoying a good game hit the next two shots to extend the lead to 16 and the Lions were still not done as Anyigbo and Warriner made it 51-70. Allerston and Simister were still a threat although they were sporadic now and the Liverpool side were producing a lot of errors. In the fourth minute, Norton produced an ‘And 1’ play and converted the free throw then made a jump shot from the top of the key. With Lions now 22pts in front, Anyigbo was given a rest and for his senior debut, 15 year old Shane Beadle filled the boots admirably as the 6’8” youngster denied Simister the ball and in the eighth minute went to the line to make his first senior point after being fouled on a lay up. Another 15 year old debut from Marshall Patterson would ensue and Patterson would impress with 6pts and 2 steals. In what was almost the final nail in the coffin, the athletic Anyigbo received the ball and leapt to the basket for a dramatic dunk. After a sleepy first quarter, Lions had proven their worth with a convincing finish and 26pt victory.

The MVP was undoubtedly Lee Norton who top scored with 32pts in what was a second half to remember for the talented guard. Norton also amassed 7 rebounds, 4 steals & 4 assists. Anyigbo and Warriner were also impressive, each with 13pts. Anyigbo adding 14 rebounds, 5 steals & 4 assists.

Matthew Allerston was the man for Merseyside with 26pts while Simister grabbed 12 rebounds.

Top scorers

Lions: Norton 32, Anyigbo 13, Warriner 13, Parsons 10, Dixon 6, Patterson 6

Spartans: Allerston 26, Simister 15, Essa 10

W/e 29th November 2009

Stockport Falcons 68-63 Middlesbrough Lions

Middlesbrough Lions have endured a tough start to the season with many hurdles contributing to a turbulent start to the season. A £15k sponsorship deal fell through at the last minute, probably due to the credit crunch. On top of this, the club have had a tough opening of fixtures and in football terms have played Arsenal, Man U and Chelsea in Hull, Bury and Wirral, three of the title challengers. Both early away fixtures were cancelled by the opposing teams to provide more disruption and having waked away from three home losses, the club were feeling wounded.

A 29pt win away to Liverpool brought confidence and flashes of what Lions are capable of, but big injuries to 7’1 Dean Hanson, Nigerian captain; Acho Anyigbo and young star Michael Peddie affected the team against local rivals Sonics and when the Lions travelled to Stockport last Saturday, not much more could go wrong… apart from Rob Parsons & Hygin Mputeya being added to the injured list along with the news that Hanson has suffered ligament damage and faces at least two months out. Lions now have 8 on the injured list and arrived at Stockport with just 5 players.

Stockport was a crucial game due to the league positions of both sides and the Lions were keen to pick up 3 wins from 3 games, this being one of them.

The home side opened the scores with the first 5pts, including a big 3 from Neil Wilson. Lions though produced a surge from the third minute which included big 3’s from Lee Norton and Ryon Dixon. The Lions would end the first period up 2pts but should have been a lot further ahead but for sloppy passing.

Lions struggled initially in the second quarter as Jack Parr inspired the Falcons with two shots and when Cameron Sweeney hit a 3 pointer in the fourth minute, Lions were now 4pts down, 19-15. A time out was called by Lions player/coach; James Thomson and Thomson then ensured a strong recovery as the point guard drew a number of fouls to place the Falcons into foul trouble. In the seventh minute Lions went to the line for 10 free shots, hitting 6 of them, Norton hitting all 6 of his attempts and the following up with a big 3 pointer to provide Lions with an 6pt lead, 21-27. Lions maintained a cushion until the final seconds when Wayne Greenough hit a buzzer beating 3 to reduce Lions lead to 4pts, 29-33 at the half.

The third quarter saw Lions mark the sheet first as Damian Warriner converted a lovely reverse drive. Warriner had been inconsistent on offense with flashes of brilliance mixed with sloppy passes and missed shots. His defence though was sublime and showed no signs of fatigue. To play 40mins of National League basketball without substitutes is no mean feat and the display from Lions was truly heroic, but a 17-2 run at the mid way point would result in another time out for Lions to rest and galvanise. Kelvin Cole was proving a threat for Falcons, hitting 10 of those points and Lions switched to a man defence to pay attention to his threat. The defensive switch seemed to work as Lions stemmed the flood with Lee Norton hitting a 3 in response and 6’10 Andrew Marshall drawing the fouls inside the key. Marshall hit 2 of 4 attempts and powered his way to the hoop for the final shot of the third quarter to reduce Lions deficit to 5pts, 49-44. For Lions it was a good finish to a bad quarter which saw Stockport win the period 20-11.

In the final quarter, Lions were tired, but still pushing. Andrew Marshall was a sensation on the rebounds and would finish the game with an incredible 19 boards, 1 shy of last weeks record 20. In the second minute, Norton produced an ‘And 1’ play after being fouled by Greenhough. Norton made the bonus to maintain his 100% from the line. Lions were biting at the ankles of the Falcons for the next four minutes, although Falcons captain; Neil Wilson was proving captain marvellous as he controlled the game adding 6pts. For Lions, Marshall was struggling inside with his finishing touch lacking accuracy. The big man did however add two buckets and when Warriner rose to the basket in the seventh minute Lions now found themselves down just 1pt, 60-59.

Sweeney would score for Falcons in the ninth minute, but Lions fired back through Norton. Sweeney then made another baseline drive which Lions failed to respond. Stockport then increased their lead through Cole and Hargreaves which would seal the game; 68-63.

Positive remarks from the home team of Lions remarkable five player display did little to cheer up the Middlesbrough side and the Teessiders even proved they had enough even with five to win the game, but a collection of poor decisions, poor free throws, sloppy passing and good play from Stockport resulted in Lions sixth loss of the season. The next two games against Merseyside away and Reddish home will define Lions season, even at this early stage.

The loss to Stockport hurts on a number of levels, firstly it was a rescheduled game which came at an awful time for Lions due to the incredible injury list, secondly Lions proved the could have won even with five and thirdly the gap between Lions and Stockport is now 6pts. Lions are 12pts away from leaders Bury.

W/e 15th November 2009

Middlesbrough Lions 58-59 Hull Wasps

What a game! Middlesbrough Lions controlled 33 of the 40 minutes and were looking favourites to pick up their first league win, despite hosting a tough side in Hull Wasps. The game climaxed with a thrilling 1pt finish which unfortunately went the way of Hull after Middlesbrough failed in the last 1.5 seconds with their final play not coming off as planned.

Lions have for the first time this season proven their potential, having left each of the last three games believing they could have won. Against Hull, Lions displayed some great passing, great team work and great defence against a team that holds the record of biggest winning margin in the entire British League of 72pts over Reddish Rebels. A vocal crowd rallied behind the Lions, hailing the determined display and this time it was the fans saying Lions should have won, not the team feeling sorry for themselves.

With the sweet over the bitter is still firmly placed in the taste buds of the Middlesbrough Lions team, knowing that a two minute spell from the second minute of the fourth quarter was a crucial set back as the Wasps produced an 8-0 run to claw their way back.

The game swung in Lions favour early on as Lee Norton opened the scores with a big three pointer in the first minute. After a poor 2 of 19 shooting display the previous game; Norton started as everyone at Eston hoped he would continue.  In quick response was Rob Birchmore for Hull with a sweet 2 pointer. In the third minute Lions extended their lead as James Thomson sliced a pass into the path of Damian Warriner who converted the lay up.

Lions were aware of the threat of Wasps’ Jamie Goodwin and throughout the game, Acho Anyigbo and Ryon Dixon took turns in restricting his impact and in fact the Wasps leading scorer was held to just 6pts. The 6’11” Polish centre; Michal Kucmierczyk started brightly though with two consecutive low post moves to bring the visitors within a point, 7-6 at the mid way point. James Rayner then went to the line after being fouled by Dean Hanson and hit both shots and to compound the situation for Lions, Wasps then took a 3pt lead when Kamil Pilarkski made a fast break lay up.

With two minutes left in the first quarter, Lions showed good character and composure by continuing their good play and allowing the opportunities to create rather than forcing the situation. This patient and controlled approach found Norton open for a 3 pointer which the guard nailed and went on to instigate a 6-0 run from Anyigbo and Warriner to finish the first quarter 16-10 in front.

In the second quarter Norton drove through a crowd for his eighth point and Warriner followed with an equally impressive lay up to extend the lead to 8 after Rice opened the period for Wasps. As Kucmierczyk and Pilarkski formed a Polish duo for 4pts Lions response was a positive one with Norton sailing in another 3 pointer to maintain a 7pt cushion, 23-16. The next three minutes would be a tale of fouls as Lions gave away 4 shooting fouls, Anyigbo, Marshall and Hanson the culprits although 3 of 8 from the line was not good enough to take the lead. In the last minute of the half, a rejuvenated Damian Warriner was looking back to his best with a strong basket off the dribble but two late shots from Hull would dampen Lions enthusiasm with the half time scores now at 25-25.

Lions were quickest off the mark in the third period as Andrew Marshall showed his offensive attributes with two good moves in the key. A solid performance from Norton in this quarter added 15pts for Lions. Lions were up 8pts with just three seconds left and when big Kucmierczyk hit a buzzer beating 3 pointer to finish the quarter 47-42, still in favour of the home team, but a concerning factor was apart from Marshall’s 4pts early on, only one other Middlesbrough player marked the sheet in Ryon Dixon and this was his only scoring contribution of the game. Lions would finish with just two players in double figure scoring and six players not scoring at all.

For the first two minutes of the fourth quarter, both teams struggled as the intense defence was admirable at both ends. It would take three minutes before a shot was converted when Kucmierczyk hit his ninth straight point. Lions had done a great job of locking down the danger of Pilarkski and Goodwin, but in the fourth minute the pair added 6pts in Lions only dip of the game. Goodwin showed grit in an unusually quiet game but still having the ability to squeeze two crucial shots to take a 3pt lead, only their second lead of the game.

Middlesbrough were now on the back foot and nerves were beginning to show with Warriner going to the line after being fouled by Kumierczyk, his fourth, to be followed shortly by his fifth fouls signalling the end of his involvement. Warriner made 1 of 2 attempts but still Lions were 2pts behind, 48-50.

Middlesbrough again struggled with their fouls which led to Rayner converting 4 free throws to earn an 8pt lead with just three minutes remaining. Lions though were not giving up without a fight and 5pts from Warriner along with a basket from Marshall brought the home team to within a single point with less than a minute left. The crowd was now registering on the Richter scale, but with the scores at 55-56 a long range effort from Lee Norton brought gasps of silence as the shot missed the hoop. A more accurate shot could have possibly been the better option and Wasps picked up the lose ball and attacked the Lions. With 43 seconds Marshall fouled Myles Anderson who went to the line and hit both shots under a barrage of noise from the home fans. The pendulum was now swinging firmly in favour of the visitors until with 14 seconds on the clock Lee Norton made amends for his earlier miss with a sweet 3 pointer that brought the crowd to its feet to celebrate a tied score and an opportunity to rescue a game that just seconds earlier was almost lost.

Hull, in control of possession, marched forward in search of the final word and as Rayner drove through a crowd a foul was called on Warriner which sent the Wasps to the line in what would seem a cruel way for Lions to lose should Rayner score as only 1.5 seconds remained. As it happened, the loudest noise of the game was enough to put Rayner off his first attempt but not his second, forcing Lions Coach; Sid Nicholls to call a Time Out and formulate a  buzzer beating play to win the game.

With Norton in-bounding the ball at half court the plan was for Warriner to set a screen to free up Anyigbo for the ‘alley oop’ shot which would all have to happen within 1.5 seconds. Unfortunately a miscommunication led to Warriner opening up, receiving the ball and with an off balance shot failing to find the target. It was a disappointing end to an exciting game. A thrilling encounter for the fans and the unlikely win for Hull will deepen the wound for Lions who will feel they did enough to earn victory.

Lee Norton was the games top scorer with 30pts and was a nose hair away from the MVP, but with some crucial shots, 17pts, 8 rebounds, 2 steals & 2 blocks Michal Kumierczyk’s display was not only valuable but the most significant factor of the Wasps win.

Top scorers

Lions: Norton 30, Warriner 14, Anyigbo 6, Marshall 6 Dixon 2

Wasps: Kumierczyk 17, Birchmore 10, Pilarkski 8, Anderson 7, Rayner 7 Goodwin 6

W/e 8th November 2009

Middlesbrough Lions 56-78 Wirral Hornets

Middlesbrough Lions suffered another 20+ defeat at the hands of Wirral Hornets. It was yet again a game that Lions left the court feeling they could have and should have won, but having felt the same way in the previous losses to Bury and Durham its high time for the Middlesbrough outfit to start backing up these claims.

Yes, Lions have had a tough opening with Hull in the cup, a faultless display by Durham in the league and a strong performance from Bury and now third placed Wirral Hornets and yes Lions are beginning to gel and perform themselves and yes its only three games into a twenty game season but its only so long before the excuses run out.

Against Wirral, Lions again looked composed at the start with good ball movement and openings creating from good player movement, a nice pass from James Thomson found the wide open Michael Peddie in the first minute to give Lions a 3-0 start after Acho Anyigbo hit a free throw.

In the second minute, Hornets leader Chris Whitehead drove to the basket for 2pts and shortly after was followed by Tom Wilkinson converting 2 of 4 free throws. Baskets were then traded by both sides until the seventh minute when Wirral produced a 9-0 run to take the scores to 9-17 in favour of the visitors. The only solitude from a poor finish being a buzzer beating off balance 3 pointer from Lions’ Ryon Dixon.

In the second quarter one identified problem for Lions was forcing the pass, with Hornets continuing to pick the pockets of Middlesbrough and add 8pts in the first five minutes, Lions only response being a drive from Lee Norton. Whitehead was proving the thorn in Middlesbrough’s side and whether alone or through a crowd was managing to work his way to the hoop. In the sixth minute Lions big man; Dean Hanson, who was enjoying a good game at the defensive end with 6 rebounds already put in a basket under pressure but the home team were still down 11pts, 16-27. A foul by Lions Thomson placed Sean Whitehead to the line where he converted both attempts and this signalled a further three shooting fouls for Hornets with Lions feeling a little hard done by. The resulting conversion was just 3 of 6 but this took Hornets to an 18pts lead. Lions were also allowing decisions to upset them, and this proved unhealthy for the team as they lost focus on the game.

A late flurry from Lions rescued 6pts as Peddie, Norton and Warriner contributed. Unfortunately for Norton his second basket of the game would represent his last as the usually potent guard struggled with 2 of 19 shot attempts. At half time the scores were 22-36 in favour of the visitors.  

The third quarter was Lions best, unfortunately their best was to tie the Hornets period score of 19. A full court man to man defence was intended to deny the inbound pass and contain the ball and the Lions were just not quick enough at picking up their players, and fouls were mounting. Ryon Dixon and Acho Anyigbo put in a good shift for Middlesbrough but in a period that Lions were beginning to play well they were disrupted as Hornets were put to the line for 12 free throws and Lions having none.

Lions though were at least converting their baskets with Rob Parsons hitting two shots from mid range in the eighth minute which made amends for an earlier spell of three rushed shots. The defence was also shaping up as they limited Hornets to just five baskets, the rest of the points coming via free throws.

In the ninth minute, frustration crept into Warriner resulting in the pushing off Chris Whitehead to the floor, earning an unsportsmanlike call from the refs. Warriner said after the game “I was really annoyed that our players were getting pushed about and receiving no calls, yet we were being called for the slightest thing. I retaliated at yet another foul on me and I know I shouldn’t have done, but you can only take so much.”

Michael Peddie wrapped up affairs with two baskets including an incredible off balance lay up which was delivered under contact resulting in an almost blind shot which spun off the glass and into the hoop. Lions had everything to do, down 14, 41-55.

The fourth and final quarter saw Ciaran Green open the period with a strong drive. This was quickly responded to by Lions Anyigbo who muscled his way to the basket for 2pts. Sean Whitehead would then continue his battle with young Peddie and after making a mid range shot continued to taunt his marker, although Peddie would finish the better man in both stats and grace.

Dixon found his range with two huge 3’s to rally Lions although Anyigbo was proving the spark as a great pass from Peddie connected with a cutting Anyigbo for a monster dunk, although to the disappointment of the crowd was disallowed due to a foul by Hornets Cook. Anyigbo would suffer from the line, finishing with 4 of 11 attempts. Hornets amid the chaos were continuing to provide calculated order with five different players providing 10pts in the first five minutes. In the sixth minute; Warriner was fouled out for Lions and will be disappointed with his below par performance. In his defence he led the team in assists, one ahead of Thomson on 4, proving he is still a capable player despite his dip in form.

A single free throw from Thomson in the sixth minute would be the last points accumulated by Lions as Wirral produced another 11pts to wrap up the game, 6 of these from free throws. Wirral were by no means a dirty team and produced a solid performance that was worthy of the 22pt victory.

An overview of the game revealed Lions actually tied the open floor shooting with both teams making 23 shots. Lions also took 21 more attempts than Hornets 53 which indicates Lions misses cost them at least 50pts when considering 3pt attempts, this being the difference between a comfortable victory and a heavy loss. Lions felt hard done by with the fouls, having received a mammoth 30 calls, while Wirral received just 14 and the home team may have a small case, especially when of the 14 Wirral fouls, 8 were in the final quarter, yet the Wirral display was consistent throughout. The resulting free throws for Hornets provided 24 additional points and should have been more as the visitors attempted an incredible 41. Lions managed just 8 free throws from 22 attempts and 14 of these were in the final quarter.

If Lions had made just 50% of their free throws and 50% of their floor shooting they would have scored 84pts, enough for a 6pt win.

The positives to come from the game on Lions part are the offence seems to be working with good movement of players and ball leading to decent shot selection for the most part. The areas for improvement are accuracy, defensive alertness and free throws.

Acho Anyigbo was the key man for Lions with 13 points, 12 rebounds and 2 blocks and had good support from Ryon Dixon on 12 points and 50% shooting from 3 point range but the spark for Lions was the inspirational display from 18 year old Michael Peddie who hit 11 points with a 60% conversion and a number of highlight plays.

For the game MVP; 19 points, 4 rebounds, 5 assists and 4 steals from Chris Whitehead earned the honour with 30% from the floor. The only fault in a great game being just 55% from the foul line.

W/e 1st November 2009

Middlesbrough Lions 71-91 Bury Blue Devils

Middlesbrough Lions put a good foot forward in terms of performance as they returned from their lacklustre display against Durham two weeks ago. The Lions lost again, but there was a “turning of a corner” with the whole team beginning to gel. Against Durham, only Acho Anyigbo could have held his head high and even then he was not exceptional and the team struggled to hit 37pts.

This latest game against another top side in Bury Blue Devils, however saw the young Lions begin to prove themselves in only their second National League encounter. Its another loss and despite Lions good start, a 20pt defeat but with exciting play throughout the game, great performances from a number of players and the team as a whole looking to enjoy their basketball, the first win looks destined to be very soon.

 Lions disappointment against Durham was so intense because of the potential of the team being a top 4 side. A tough start, including the cup runs, against strong and experienced opposition has been mentally challenging for the club and keeping morale was a concern for management, so the posture and encouraging signs from the players after this game was a very pleasing indication.

A different starting line up saw regulars; Lee Norton and Ryon Dixon begin on the bench due to missing a training session and the players on court proved their value as James Thomson and Stuart Meek composed the game with good passing and leadership. Within three minutes, Middlesbrough were leading 6-0 as Warriner and Anyigbo combined well. A good spell from Bury took them 1pt ahead as Steve Sawyer hit two shots before Nick Metcalfe rained in a big 3 pointer. Middlesbrough remained cool and kept the ball moving nicely as Anyigbo found the open Dean Hanson, with the 7 footer hitting a nice jump shot. Metcalfe was proving a factor as he hit another 4pts to give the visitors a 14-8 lead, but in the remaining thirty seconds Lions’ Lee Norton converted a strong drive and a mid range jump shot to bring the home side within 2pts, 12-14.

Norton continued his late rally at the beginning of the second quarter as he drove to the basket and was fouled. As the ball sailed into the hoop, the And 1 play was complete with a bonus shot which Norton scored to give Lions a 1pt lead. Norton, Meek and Thomson all combined to add further points in the fourth minute for a 3pt lead after baskets from Bury’s Daniel Seshie Cottrell. When Lions big duo; Hanson and Anyigbo were on court together they provided a  sense of security with both pulling down big rebounds and claiming a couple of blocks each.

 In the fifth minute Bury began to pull away as, although Lions were still playing well, the Blue Devils turned on some magic with a 13-0 run, inspired by 6pts from captain Steven Graham. Norton replied late in the quarter with 4pts but missed two free throws which would be an identified team fault down the line. At the end of the half Lions still looked promising with a score of 26-38, but Bury deservedly leading.

Warriner had been quiet offensively since his opening baskets in the first minute but was on hand to complete the drive and when Norton hit 1 of 2 free throws and Meek struck gold with a baseline 3 pointer Lions recued the deficit to just 6pts in less than a minute.

In the fourth minute, Sam Bogucki fell victim to a hard screen as the guard ran into a 7’2” 19 stone brick wall that was Lions’ Dean Hanson, resulting in a concerning few minutes with Bogucki remaining motionless on the floor. Thankfully after a spell on the bench, the dazed devil would  return.

This margin would stay the same as both teams traded baskets until the sixth minute when Lions entered into a string of errors, the main culprit being James Thomson, leading to the guard calling for himself to be subbed off. Having trained for only half hour all week due to flu, Thomson would play no further part in the game. The remaining three minutes witnessed another strong 15-1 run from Bury with only Leighton responding with a free throw. Lions had now missed 7 free throws and it was about to get worse as the third quarter finished 64-42 in favour of the Blue Devils.

In the final quarter Warriner, who was enjoying a good game in terms of steals, defence and passing was suffering at the line, missing another two attempts and finishing with 0 of 8. Soon after Norton flew down the key and made the basket despite heavy contact that wasn’t called by the refs, who to be fair performed excellently. The baskets were being traded evenly, but the two heavy runs from Bury in previous quarters meant the visitors were still comfortable leaders by 22pts. By now though, Lions energetic crowd were in full voice to spur on the local lads and in the third minute Ryon Dixon found an open Anyigbo who rose to the occasion with an athletic dunk. Lee Norton was enjoying a good quarter, hitting 15pts including a big 3 pointer and two And 1 plays. In the sixth minute Lions Dixon went to the line to convert both attempts, yet this was a rarity at the line as the home team missed 12 attempts in the final quarter and 18 in the game and had these been scored it would have brought the Lions to within 2pts. A telling tale which will be addressed in training over the next two weeks.

A final score of 71-91 was a deserved win for Coach Walsh and his Bury side, yet the game may have provided Lions with more than even a win. “We have a great team of players, yet we haven’t clicked, not until this game. To have played so well against another top side in Bury is very encouraging. We lost the game through free throws which in one way is pleasing as its something identifiable and simple that needs attention, but more importantly didn’t reflect bad game play, just poor concentration” added Lions’ James Thomson.

All Lions played well and very well in parts, there were big displays from Dean Hanson and Damian Warriner while Lee Norton was on top form with a game high 35pts. Its not often a player from a losing side earns MVP but Norton just outshined Devils’ Ben Burns with good offense and defence as well as excellent driving including three And 1 plays. Norton added “I’m really pleased not just with myself but everyone’s contribution, we are probably two or three games away from playing to our potential.”

Lions coach; Simon Nicholls was also upbeat “we are starting to deliver now and we still have a couple of players to return including big Andrew Marshall, who may have given us the edge today. I had to protect my only two big men by rotating them but it was more advantageous for both to play together.”

Top Scorers

Lions: Norton 35, Warriner 11, Anyigbo 8, Meek 8

Blue Devils: Burns 23, Metcalfe 19, Graham 11