Durham League

For the last five seasons, Norton and Teesside Huskies have dominated the battle for the top three Durham championship trophies. But their grip could well be ended this season.

The two teams with the ability to end their reign are Nissan and East Durham and Houghall Basketball Academy.

Nissan have lost only one league game, an 111-106 reverse to Teesside Huskies A in one of the best games seen in Durham all season. The crunch will be the meeting with unbeaten East Durham and Houghall Academy in late January.

Division One newcomers Middlesbrough Mavericks topped the table until the last game before the Christmas break when they lost 86-80 to Nissan who leap-frogged above them.

The First Division Cup is running on different lines this season. All teams play in a pool competition. Once that stage is completed the top four teams play knock-out semi-finals with the winners meeting in the final.

Once again, East Durham and Houghall Academy and Nissan lead the way. In fact after two years of finding their way in Durham, the Academy seem ready to 'come of age' this time round. They are unbeaten and look as though they might just complete a Durham treble.

Leading individual scorers - Division One: East Durham and Houghall Academy: Rony Gordon (106), John Simpson (104), Keith Dolby (101), James Rood (35).

ED and H Community College A: John Harding (108), Adam Williams (86), John Bergin (83), Ian Barrow (50).

Middlesbrough Mavericks: Marek Pawlak (198), Ian Viveash (152), Wayne Bailey (77), Andy Reid (61), Phil McCarthy (56).

Nissan: Neil Thorne (198), Arran Hope (124), Bill Spragg (115), Chris Maddison (97), Lee Davie (87), Steve Dixon (75), Neil Baxter (57).

Norton: Steve Butler (215), Glen Urban (171), Dave Murphy (77), Tony Smelt (72), Mark Winter (56), Gareth Wood (50).

Teesside Huskies A: Paul Douglas (105), John Anderson (90), Richard Stoker (76), Tom Applegarth (72), Tony Hanson (58) James Thompson (56).

University of Teesside: Tunde Falade (149), Jon Stonebridge (122), Rob Rough (107), Mat Ellis (104).

Top ten leading scorers, League - Division One: Steve Butler (Norton) 132, Tunde Falade (University of Teesside) 111, Marek Pawlak (Middlesbrough Mavericks) 102, Glen Urban (Norton) 100, Ian Viveash (Middlesbrough Mavericks) 97, Rob Rough (University of Teesside) 89, Neil Thorne (Nissan) 81, Paul Douglas (Teesside Huskies A) 75, Mat Ellis (University of Teesside) 72, Jon Stonebridge (University of Teesside) 71.

Cup: Neil Thorne Nissan) 117, Marek Pawlak (Middlesbrough Mavericks) 96, Steve Butler (Norton) 83, Glen Urban (Norton) 71, Keith Dolby (ED and H Academy) 70, John Simpson (ED and H Academy)69, Rony Gordon (ED and H Academy) 63, Adam Williams (ED and H College A) 60, Chris Maddison (Nissan) 56, Ian Viveash (Middlesbrough Mavericks).

Combined: Steve Butler (Norton) 215, Marek Pawlak (Middlesbrough Mavericks) 198, Neil Thorne (Nissan) 198, Glen Urban (Norton) 171, Ian Viveash (Middlesbrough Mavericks) 152, Tunde Falade (University of Teesside) 149, Arran Hope (Nissan) 124, Jon Stonebridge (University of Teesside) 122, Bill Spragg (Nissan) 115, Rony Gordon (ED and H Academy) 109.