Durham League
The final week of the season is traditionally a week of cup finals and it gave Tyneside womens team a unique league treble.
Having already won the league title with 16 wins from their 16 outings, Tyneside started the week with a 114-108 victory in the Handicap Cup final against East Durham and Houghall Academy.
They then completed the treble by beating Newcastle College 110-62 in the Womens County Cup final.
It is a feat which no other side in the history of the women's league has managed in one season.
Tyneside faced an uphill struggle in the Handicap final.
Not only was the final scheduled to be played on the court of opponents East Durham and Houghall Academy, but the College side were also given the generous handicap of a 30 point start, plus two points a point.
In the end though the undisputed firepower of the Tyneside squad swept them to victory.
Academy held their own for 15 minutes as Lucie Hitchings produced a tremendous display from point guard to drive her team forward and with only five minutes of the first half left Academy still led by a distance at 74-36. The next five minutes won Tyneside the cup.
Deirdre Hayes suddenly took the game by the scruff of the neck to initiate a 28 points unanswered burst which not only cut the gap to 74-64 by the interval, but also won her the games MVP award.
Tasha Brown was unstoppable for much of the tie as she rounded off fast-break after fast-break and Tyneside hit the front for the first time at 98-96 during a 14-0 run in the first six minutes of the final quarter and Academy were beaten.
Tasha Brown hit 47 points for Tyneside while Sarah Hindmarch and Zoe Vickers added 25 and 23. No one managed double figures for Academy, but Hitchings did hit 9 points.
The County Cup Final win was a little more academic for Tyneside as a majestic first 20 minutes brought scores from Tasha Brown, Sarah Hindmarch, Dierdre Hayes and Zoe Vickers and a comfortable cushion of 56-33 and the writing was on the wall for opponents Newcastle College.
The second half was more of the same as the College youngsters failed to cope with theTyneside pressing defence and bursts of 16-4 in the middle of the third quarter and a 12-0 finish added up to a 110-62 Tyneside triumph and give them that amazing treble.
Four players hit big scores for Tyneside; Tasha Brown (33), Sarah Hindmarch (23), Zoe Vickers (22) and Deirdre Hayes (13). Gemma McInally was excellent for Newcastle College with 28 points, Emma Lawrence added 12, but the MVP trophy went to teammate Emma Ross who finished with 11.
* The statistics from the Durham League season continues with a look at the women's league.
Women's Division
P W L Pts
Tyneside 16 16 0 48
Sunderland Nissan 16 13 3 42
Newcastle College 16 9 7 34
South Tyneside 16 9 7 34
Nunthorpe Boro Bruins 16 6 10 28
ED and H Academy 16 5 11 25
University of Teesside 16 5 11 24
Whickham 16 5 11 24
Durham Knights 16 1 15 18
Women's Division leading League scorers: Sarah Hindmarch (Tyneside) 363, Tasha Brown (Tyneside)331, Zoe Vickers (Tyneside) 331, Gemma McInally (Newcastle College) 275, Gillian McKimm (University of Teesside) 257, Sally McLure (Newcastle College) 239, Lisa Roughley (Nunthorpe Boro Bruins) 197, Ruth Barron (Nunthorpe Boro Bruins) 194, Judith English (Sunderland Nissan) 191, Erica Danis (University of Teesside) 156, Emily Ghio (Durham Knights) 152, Helle Harby-Owrenn (University of Teesside) 147, Kim Websdale (Whickham) 138, Maureen Cook (South Tyneside) 137, Anna Critchley (Durham Knights) 135, Kelly Geach (Tyneside) 133, Louise Barnes (ED and H Academy) 124, Lucie Hitchings (ED and H Academy) 122.
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