Basketball

A weakened Norton side were able to capture the lead, even without the play of Paul Jenkins and Ian Nicholson, as they led their First Division opponents through some excellent shooting from Tony Smelt, Sam Butterworth and Mark Winter. A change of defence by East Durham in the second quarter worked wonders however and a score of 34-13 sealed the game. The lead was extended throughout the second half with some excellent basketball from Lee Davie and Ian Barrow who put the visitors into the next round with a 97-66 win.

Top scorers: Norton: Tony Smelt 17, Sam Butterworth 13, Mark Winter 13. East Durham Dave Lee 36, Ian Barrow 30.

Middlesbrough College v Middlesbrough 'Steve Whitehead Joinery' Mavericks

This was a desperately close game between the two local combatants, in which the Second Division College go through to the quarter finals of the County Cup with a defeat of their Division One opponents. College jumped out to the early lead with Taner Adu adding 13 personal points to give his team a 16 point lead by the end of the first quarter. Marek Pawlak added for the Mavs but Adu and Stuart McGarry made sure that College still held onto a double figured advantage. It was the third quarter that let the Mavs back into the game as Ian Viveash beginning to stir, helping the Mavs to get within three points of the home team with ten minutes to go. The final quarter was an exiting close affair with the Mavericks capturing the lead for a short while with a a couple of minutes remaining. A Dabiri sealed the game with 7 points (his only of the game) in the final two minutes to hand the win to College 90-88.

Top scorers: College: Tanek Adu 30, Stuart McGarry 26, Michael James 19. Mavs: Marek Pawlak 39, Ian Viveash 26.

Belmont Pumas v Willington Wasps

Willington took the lead and control early and with a some neat team basketball and use of the bench extended their lead in all but the third quarter. Belmont also spread the ball well as every player (fifteen in all) scored. Nine players scored eight or more points and as Belmont played an equally fast paced game as their visitors. It was Willington who stamped all authority into the contest though through Luke Somerville early on, with the burden of scoring taken up by Paul Campbell and Ben Scorer later on. Mark Elderkin tried to keep Belmont in the game as they showed later, what they were capable of in the third quarter when the home team outscored their opponents and brought them within 14 points. A large task but not impossible was undertaken in the final ten minutes. Belmont's open fast style to get points quickly left them vulnerable and Willington took advantage to press home their lead and win the game 92-62.

Top scorers: Belmont: Steven Graham 21, Mark Elderkin 13. Willington: Luke Somerville 28, Paul Campbell 15, Ben Scorer 14, Sam Scorer 11, Neil Baxter 10

Wear Va. Wild Dawgs v Belmont Pant.

In what turned out to be a low scoring encounter Belmont scrapped into the next round. Belmont took the lead by the ninth minute, Andrew Knox taking the strain for Belmont, and never really looked. It was a game for poor shooting and strong defence as a nine point lead in this game, held by Belmont at the change in half, looked like a mountain to climb. But climb it Wear Valley did as their third quarter performance brought them back to within three points with ten minutes to go, Scott and Hirst continuing Ballard's god work from the first quarter. The final ten minutes were dominated by Belmont however as Huntley and Davies ran the show put Belmont into the next round of the Cup 55-38.

Top scorers: Wear Valley: Alan Scott 14. Belmont: Andrew Knox 12, Richard Huntley 12, Ian Davies 10.

Ladies Handicap Cup

East Durham Academy 150 v 127 Tyne & Wear Cadets

T&W stated win 80 point head start and each basket was worth twice as many points. Top scorers: East Durham: L. Calder 24, K. Dean 23, G. Lynch 18, I. Ofomata 14, R. Cass, L. Hutchings 11, M. Githegi 10. Cadets: Lauren Loader-Young 24.

Division Three Cup

Hartlepool CJ Hydraulics 60 v 64 East Durham & Houghall Comm. Coll.

Top scorers: Hartlepool: Adam Turner 18, Sean McKenzie 11. ED&HCC: Paul Cassell 30, James Simmons 18, Wayne Dunn 11.

Division Two Cup

Durham Saints 65 v 72 Teess. Husk.

Top scorers: Durham: James Smith 21, Simon Dunlop 21, Mitch Johnson 10, Ben Clarke 10. Huskies: Michael Thompson 34 G. Henderson 12.