Basketball

First Division Middlesbrough Mavericks suffered a Durham County Cup quarter-finals shock, losing 101-88 to Second Division Hartlepool Hornets A who opened a 9-2 fourth-minute lead.

A time-out settled Mavericks and by the end of the first quarter they levelled at 24-24. In the second quarter Mavericks hit a 12-0 run to establish a 38-29 cushion. However, Hornets recovered to 50-47 by half-time.

John Middleton and Dan Bailey gave Hornets the better of the third quarter and with ten minutes left Hornets led 73-70. Hornets were at their best in the final quarter. A trio of three-pointers from Bruce Marshall gave them an 88-86 lead with four minutes left and Dan Farrell and Middleton shared a 13-2 finish to ensure Hornets a place in the semis.

Marshall's 30 points included eight three-point baskets, Bailey and Middleton collected 26 and 23 while Farrell chipped in with 10. Four players hit double figures for Middlesbrough Mavericks, Marek Pawlak (28), Wayne Bailey (17), Richard Rowden (14) and Rob Rawdon (11).

Having lost 93-73 to Norton in a league game last week, East Durham and Houghall College A were expecting the worst in their cup game at Peterlee but when the visitors arrived without most of their stars, College heads went up and another shock result gave them a 98-53 victory.

John Harding initiated a College recovery from a slow start to take his side into the first break with a 20-13 cushion and by half-time the gap had grown to 42-24. Ian Barrow opened the second-half on fire to hit eight from 10 which stretched the lead to 52-24. A similar 10 unanswered points from David Wylie and Andrew Bains started the final quarter and any hopes that Norton had of a recovery were out of the window on the back of a 76-37 deficit.

Five players shared most of the East Durham points; Harding (30), Bains (18), Barrow (18), Wylie (16) and John Bergin (10). Norton youngsters Tony Smelt, Sam Butterworth and Gareth Wood collected 17, 15 and 10 respectively.

University of Teesside completed a miserable County Cup week for Teesside teams by losing their quarter-final 79-84 to Nissan at Washington. With six minutes left a tremendous display by the University seemed about to pay off. The score was 65-65 and Nissan had just lost a player to fouls, leaving them with four players on court. Unfortunately instead of chasing the game, the students relaxed. Nissan grabbed the initiative, won the six minutes 19-14 and strode into the semi-final as 84-79 winners.

Three players shared most of the points for Nissan, Arran Hope (35), Chris Maddison (23) and Lee Davie (18). Mat Ellis top scored for University of Teesside with 21, Rob Rough (14), Sam Rowley (13) and Tunde Falade (11).

Two of the Women's Handicap Cup ties were played, East Durham and Houghall Academy winning a 'scratch' tie with Nunthorpe Boro Bruins 71-34. Four players hit double figures for the Academy, Louise Barnes (17), Natalie McKenley (15), Ruth Cass (14) and Lucie Hutchings (10). Only Lisa Roughley was at her best with 18 for Nunthorpe.

Tyneside have never won the Handicap Cup, but they reached the semi-finals with a 121-107 success in a tremendous game with University of Teesside. The students had the benefit of a 50 point start and it took Tyneside 31 minutes to hit the front for the first time at 96-95. At that stage University could have so easily folded, but they contributed fully to a fast and entertaining finish.

Tasha Brown and Sarah Hindmarch did most to win the game for Tyneside with 43 and 42 points respectively, Zoe Vickers added 24. University of Teesside had Gillian McKimm (21), Erica Danis (13)and Shonagh Fullarton (11).

County Cup, Quarter-finals: Nissan 84 University of Teesside 79 ; Hartlepool Hornets A 101 Middlesbrough Mavericks 88 ; East Durham and Houghall College A 98 Norton 53 .

Women's Handicap Cup, Quarter-finals: Tyneside 121 University of Teesside 107 ; East Durham and Houghall Academy Ladies 71 Nunthorpe Boro Bruins 34 .

Division One Cup (pool game): Norton 61 Middlesbrough Mavericks 44.

Division Three Cup (pool games): Hartlepool Hornets B 69 Young Houghtonians 71; Trimdon CCA 92 Hartlepool CJ Hydraulics B 76; Durham Saints 67 East Durham and Houghall College B 72.

League Games, Division Two: Hartlepool CJ Hydraulics A 78 Durham Knights 68.

Women's Division: Durham Knights 50 Newcastle College Wildcats 34 .