Durham League - Norton A bounced back from last week's shock County Cup defeat in the best possible way this week by beating close neighbours and rivals Teesside Huskies 76-74 in their Durham League first division derby.
Huskies started like a house on fire to lead 13-3 after six minutes. Leon Gabbidon was causing havoc under the Norton boards and Huskies were clear at 26-16 when the first quarter finished. Mark Winter and Gareth Wood did the damage on offence for Norton although a change to man defence could not stop Huskies from taking the interval at 45-34. Huskies lead had stretched to 58-44 with three minutes left, but Norton heads stayed up and a run of nine unanswered points shared between Wood and Liam O'Donohue for Norton helped cut the deficit to just 62-55 with ten minutes to play. Two of the final three minutes netted Norton another nine points without reply and when the final minute started they were in the lead for the first time in the game at 74-71. Raftopolous then hit his fifth three-pointer of the game to tie the scores at 74-74 with only seconds left.. Steve Butler netted the winner.
Four players hit double figure for Norton A; Tony Smelt (20), O'Donohue (18), Winter (13) and Wood (10).
The Nissan fortunes took a distinct turn for the better this weeks when a 96-78 win over East Durham and Houghall College A virtually guaranteed them a play-off place in the Division One Cup .
League leaders Hartlepool Hornets steamrollered Peterlee Video 112-68 in their derby at Hartlepool.
The visitors were in the game for only six minutes after which they led 12-10. But Pool proved too strong with their teamwork the key and the result was six players in double figures; Sean Ward (25), Ord (22), Anthony Allison (13), Marshall (12), Dan Farrell (11) and John Middleton (10). Sean Percival scored 29 for Peterlee as Lee Grieve and Jack Richards netted 14 each.
Belmont A retained their second place in the table and kept up the pressure on Hornets with a 94-64 success in their derby with Durham Knights. Lee Davie gave Belmont a great start. There is no legal way that his drives to basket can be stopped and when the opening ten minutes finished Belmont were clear at 24-14. An even second quarter was followed by Knights best spell in a third quarter during which the students cut a 44-32 interval deficit to one of 54-49. Points were well spread throughout the Belmont A team, although four players did hit double figures; Davie (19), Stephen Graham (13), Geoff Pollard (12) and Andrew Knox (11). Webb top scored for Durham Knights with 24 points, Bjelland and Adam Woodhouse netted 14 each.
A trip to the small gym where Shildon Strollers play their games often overawes many teams, but such is the confidence in the East Durham and Houghall College B side that they will happily take on anyone, anywhere. This they did to good effect with a 111-65 victory.
A full-court press netted College five baskets before Strollers had drawn breath. Jamie Paul and David Wylie then guided College through an excellent first half which finished at 51-31. Bains topped the solo scoring list with 33 points, although four others hit double figures for East Durham; Paul (26), Wylie (18), Steven Wood (14) and Mark Vickers (12). Malcolm Turnbull did best for Strollers with 18 points, Steve Patterson and John Sewell reached double figures with 14 and 12.
Trimdon Community College Association completed a league double over Hartlepool CJ Hydraulics A with a 94-77 triumph at Hartlepool, and for the second game in a row the Hartlepudlians were sidelined by a one-man show. Two weeks ago 50 points from David Wylie gave East Durham College success over Hydraulics, this time round it was 53 points from Lee Norton which gave Trimdon the spoils. Gary Keith led the scoring for Hartlepool CJ Hydraulics A with 19 points, whilst Anthony Robinson and Colin Knight added 14 and 13. Ian Harrison hit 18 for Trimdon, but the 53 point career best from Norton made the difference.
Consett Steelers rounded the second division week off with a last-gasp 76-74 victory over Old Houghtonians, a contest decided by Brendan McNeaney free-throws in the dying seconds. Both sides enjoyed a good quarter in the first half. Garry Gowans 22 point match total included six three-point baskets, Mat Patterson got 21 whilst McNeaney scored 15. Simon Lloyd, Ben Scorer and Paul Carr collected 28, 18 and 16 respectively for Old Houghtonians.
The best womens game of the week saw Durham Knights push Sunderland Nissan all the way before the latter ran out 52-44 winners. Davison and Crawford collected 13 and 12 for Sunderland Nissan, Kat Abrashkina and Alison Turner hit 15 and 12 for Durham Knights.
Durham League Results: Division One (Cup) : East Durham and Houghall College A 78 Nissan 96 Division One (League) : Norton A 76 Teesside Huskies 74 . Division Two : Belmont A 94 Durham Knights 64 ; Shildon Strollers 65 East Durham and Houghall College B 111 ; Hartlepool Hawks 112 Peterlee Video 68 ; Hartlepool CJ Hydraulics A 77 Trimdon Community College Association 94 ; Consett Steelers 76 Old Houghtonians 74 . Division Three (Cup) : Spennymoor Exiles 73 Hartlepool CJ Hydraulics B 78 ; East Durham and Houghall College C 47 Belmont B 82 ; Durham Saints 64 Spennymoor Exiles 59 . Division Three (League) : Young Houghtonians 69 Hartlepool Hawks 61 .
Womens Division : Northumbria 61 Durham Knights 33 ; Newcastle College 53 Tyneside 64 ; Sunderland Nissan 52 Durham Knights 44 .
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