Durham League - Three high scoring fixtures ensured that this weeks round of Durham League first division games was entertainment of the highest order.

The best of those game proved that after a very indifferent campaign last year, Teesside Huskies are without doubt back to their very best, a fact borne out by a 116-90 victory from a brilliant game with guests East Durham and Houghall College A.

As the score suggests, the contest had all the pace and skill which makes basketball special. Neither side was phased by the other and shots were hitting the target from all points north, east and west of the basket. It just so happened that Huskies always had the edge in the high shooting stakes and the first three quarters of the game scored 31-22, 30-26 and 33-21 to leave them 94-69 ahead and in charge with ten minutes to play.

James Thompson and Rob Harland were the main threats on offence for Huskies and they finished with 32 and 23 points apiece. East Durham newcomers, Phil Thomas, Kain McKay and Graham Hunter scored 29, 26 and 20 points respectively for East Durham.

After a run of early season defeats, Middlesbrough Mavericks are beginning to string together a succession of victories and they were far stronger in all aspects of the game that a below strength Norton A whom they demolished 103-46.

At one end of court Rob Bryson and Marek Pawlak were going to town whilst at the other end the excellent Mavericks defence restricted Norton to just 10 points in the first quarter and nine in the last. Only Steve Lowde offered any real resistance to the power of Pawlak and Wayne Bailey inside and the accurate outside shooting of Bryson and Andrew Swanson. Pawlak top scored for Middlesbrough Mavericks with 26 points, Bryson was not far behind on 22. Swanson and Bailey added 14 and 10 each for the winners. Lowde did collect more than half of the Norton points.

Middlesbrough College Academy are another team which has wasted no time in showing their potential and this week it was University of Teesside who were on the receiving end of a 119-67 lesson in basketball at its best.

Academy were in charge from the outset as they outscored the older students by two baskets to one throughout a first half which scored 51-27. The break gave University no real respite as the Middlesbrough College students upped the pressure at both ends of court on the restart to run out comfortable winners. Kieron Achara, Michael Gayle and Carl Henry finished with 23, 21 and 17 points respectively for Middlesbrough College Academy, Phil Hale and Sam Rowley did best for University of Teesside with 20 and 15 points apiece.

Last week it was Tyneside, this week it was the turn of Sunderland Nissan to dish out a lesson in skills and finishing to Tyne and Wear Cadettes as they used all the wisdom gained over many seasons at the top of the basketball tree to beat the youngsters 75-53 in their derby at Washington.

Experience really does count for a lot in any game and with many years of National League basketball under her belt Judith English was just far too good for the Cadettes and her 35 points went a long way to making the difference between the two sides. Cadettes were still very much in the game at 49-42 with just eleven minutes left, but English then hit 12 points in a 18-2 match-winning burst and six minutes later Sunderland were away at 68-44. Vicky Davis added 12 points to the 35 scored by English for Sunderland Nissan, Laura Calder and Lynch collected 20 and 14 apiece for Tyne and Wear Cadettes. Although it is a bit early in the season to be talking about winning titles, Hartlepool Hornets took a big step towards the Durham League division two championship when they beat closest rivals and previously unbeaten Belmont A 96-63 this week at Hartlepool.

Several factors brought success.

Bailey was excellent for his 25 points, Murphy and Graham Ord added 19 and 18 each for Hartlepool Hornets. Lee Davie and Stephen Graham led the Belmont A challenge with 22 and 19 points.

Division Two : Hartlepool Hornets 96 Belmont A 63 ; Shildon Strollers 62 Old Houghtonians 59 ; Hartlepool CJ Hydraulics A 61 Consett Steelers 87 .

Division Three : Belmont B 75 East Durham and Houghall College C 55 ; Spennymoor Exiles 75 Durham Saints 97 ; Specsavers Wear Valley Wolves 89 Hartlepool Hawks 77 ; Young Houghtonians 100 Norton B 71 .

Womens Division : Newcastle College 91 Whickham 38 ; Tyneside 91 Northumbria 50 ; Tyne and Wear Cadettes 53 Sunderland Nissan 75 ; Durham Knights 53 East Durham and Houghall Academy 72