BASKETBALL: Durham League

The best game of the week also had the closest finish as Nissan beat Belmont Reds 65-64 in the Mens Division One Final.

Steven Graham opened the Belmont scoring with a three-point basket, but seven points from Bill Spragg helped give Nissan the early lead at 10-5 after five minutes. Nissan held that initiative for just two more minutes as Graham this time hit three baskets in a row to give Belmont the lead for the first time at 17-16. Barry Fenwick hit back for Nissan and his three-point basket on the buzzer took his side into the first break 21-20 ahead. The second quarter was more of the same, cut and thrust entertainment. Three-point baskets from Andrew Knox and Graham gave Belmont the early advantage at 31-25 after four minutes, but when Arran Hope and Lee Davie shared most of the points in a 11-2 run in the last six minutes of the first half it was Nissan who had the edge again, this time at 38-35 as the half-time whistle blew.

The tie restarted with a brace of three-point baskets from Knox and after three minutes Belmont were once more in front at 42-38. Points from Spragg settled Nissan, but with Knox now at his best and with Richard Huntley in tow, it was Belmont who had the best of the third quarter and the ten minute phase closed at 56-50 to them. The last period was tension personified, but as a result low scoring. Daniel Smith opened it with a score for Belmont, but Nissan had saved the best until last and Hope, Fenwick and Ian Barrow all hit the target in a 10-2 six minute period and with three minutes left on the clock the contest was all-square at 60-60. A Graham basket gave Belmont the lead at 62-60 only for a three-pointer from Hope to edge Nissan in front at 63-62 and in an unbearable last two minutes the only additions were two free-shots from Gary Simpson and a basket from Huntley as Nissan somehow held on.

Nissan's Lee Davie hit 14 points and collected the games 'most valuable player' award as Spragg led their scoring with 17 points to which Hope added 13. Knox was outstanding for Belmont Reds with 21 points, although Graham matched him with the same total as Huntley chipped in with 11.

The week had started with the Men's Division Two Cup Final and it was Consett Steelers who lifted the trophy with a 82-60 victory over Old Houghtonians at Peterlee. To a certain extent, Houghtonians had lost their chance of cup glory when Ian Burlison was injured in their last league game of the season, but that did not stop them pushing Steelers all the way to the wire.

Kris Nell started well for Houghtonians, but scores from him were matched by baskets from Mark Ewen and Brendan McNeaney and when the opening ten minutes finished it was Steelers who had just edged ahead at 18-16. Baskets from three different players in the third and fourth minutes of the second quarter gave Houghtonians the lead for the first time in the game at 27-25, but a good spell shared between Matt Patterson and McNeaney took Steelers into the interval with a 40-36 cushion.

The third quarter was relatively even as all five players on court hit baskets for Houghtonians only to see Patterson and McNeaney do just enough to keep Steelers ahead and with ten minutes left the north-west Durham side were in control at 60-50. The last quarter was all Steelers as Houghtonians finally ran out of steam. Patterson dominated proceedings for Steelers, although Chris Telford did manage to land a couple of three-point baskets as Steelers cruised to victory.

Patterson collected 28 points and the 'mvp' award as McNeaney and Ewen notched 20 and 12 points apiece. Best for Old Houghtonians was Burdis on 24 as Nell scored 12.

The last game of the week, the Mens Division Three Final was yet another great advert for the sport. It was won by Belmont who beat Specsavers Wear Valley Warriors 75-65, but perhaps more importantly for Durham basketball, it was played out between two groups of enthusiastic and gifted youngsters. In their hands basketball in the County is safe.

Indeed the result could have gone either way as all but the last two minutes was even. Ian Bunnett put his stamp on the game with a great check in the opening minute of the game. He was then joined by Adam Ballard and between them they gave Belmont the run-around in a 21-17 opening quarter. Paul Elderkin, David Waldock and Ian Hindmoor then redressed the balance and with twenty minutes gone Warriors cushion was down to 34-32.

Two baskets from Craig McManus put Belmont in front at 36-34 on the restart and as the lead swopped hands throughout the third quarter it was Jonathan Hirst and Ballard who did best for Warriors only for Mark Elderkin to enjoy his best spell and when the third break arrived it was Belmont who had the initiative, but only just at 49-47. Eight and a half of those final ten minutes was even entertainment. Liam Haggerty opened the quarter with a three-point basket and although Ballard and brothers Jonathan and Martyn Hirst were quick to answer for Warriors, it was Ian Hewitt who was instrumental in keeping Belmont just in front at 65-63 with ninety seconds left. Just when overtime looked likely up popped Haggerty with two baskets which not only took Belmont away to 69-63, but also helped win him the games 'mvp' award.

It was Hewitt who topped the Belmont scoring with 19 points as Elderkin, Haggerty and McManus finished with 16, 14 and 10 respectively. Bunnett was excellent for Specsavers Wear Valley Warriors with 21 points as Ballard and Jonathan Hirst collected 16 and 10.