Lions Go Top Of League, But Will They Stay There? (From The Northern Echo)

Lions Go Top Of League, But Will They Stay There?

1:42pm Tuesday 22nd April 2008 in Teesside Basketball League By James Thomson

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In an amazing turn of events, Ormesby Tigers, the title favourites for the majority of the season have plunged out of the race after their game against Hartlepool Hornets was cancelled. In a truly unexpected occurrence, both the Tigers and Hornets can no longer clinch the title and raises the all important question as to why the game was cancelled and why each team was deducted 1pt, when both teams were in a four way hunt for the Division One Championship. It all adds to the spice of what has been a great season in the Teesside Basketball League and bodes well for next season with more teams wanting to join.

Tees United Lions are currently top of the league after beating Hartlepool Hornets 103-88 last week but have now completed their fixtures and are hoping that Hornets can beat Heat to retain their pole position and win the title during their first season in the TBL.

Heat though will enter the game full of confidence knowing their destiny is in their own hands, unlike the Lions. Heat also boast a full squad to select from whereas Hornets have had some injury problems recently and could only turn out six players against Lions and this may prove crucial in the latter stages of the game. Heat Coach, Anthony Robinson will be looking to his star players to shine in their most important game of the season.

In their previous loss to Lions, two weeks ago only Adam Turner and Ian Barrow produced on the night with the rest of the team playing below their usual standard. If Heat are to win this encounter, they will need all players, especially the likes of Carl Colmer and Robinson himself to be at their best.

Hornets will be relying on the accurate shooting hand of Lee Norton, who missed their previous league meeting, a 62-77 win for Heat. Tyrone Thomas and Mike James will also be crucial players for Hornets and if Jonny Osborne can raise his game the Hornets, although the under dogs going into the game have every possibility of causing an upset.

In the highly successful Division Two, TU Lions B were given a boost up the table into 6th place after Heat B conceded both games. The top of the league was decided a few weeks ago with the all dominating Norton Bulls taking the title with games to spare, but the bottom of the pile has only just been finalised with Heat B, Hornets B and Vikings B making up the bottom three after being deducted points for non completion of fixtures. Heat B were actually deducted 4pts which has dramatically altered their season fortunes as last week they were in 7th place and could have consolidated a higher finish just by playing their remaining games. Thirsk Vikings finished off a superb second half of the season to finish in 5th place, just 1pt behind Redcar Mariners.