Norton Lift Division Two Title

10:25am Tuesday 8th April 2008

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Teesside Basketball in association with Game Time Birthday Parties & Principul PSD

Norton Bulls are the new champions of Division 2 with one game to spare after beating the resilient Hartlepool Heat B 68-62 at Norton School. Norton have been the team to beat all season with star players Mark Finmore and Sam Butterworth on the ball again against the Heat. Finmore hit 29pts while Butterworth added 13 along with his ever present defensive threat.

Finmore has been the big hitter all season in Division 2, his highest score being 48pts in their previous encounter with Heat B while his lowest was still a healthy 18 away to Tees United Lions B. His average for the season at 29.6 ppg (points per game) finds the guard in sixth place in the leading scorers board, although he may move up a few places depending on other players totals.

Norton's Coach; Graham Jackson has been delighted with his teams attitude and consistency all season and hopes to build on what they have developed this year. Coach Jackson added "We have a good mix of experience and young lads willing to learn. We get on well together on and off the court which makes a big difference."

Norton's last taste of silverware was in 2004 when they won the Playsport Cup. Its only the second time in the clubs long history that they have managed to win the Division 2 title, their previous honour being in 1993 although they have spent the majority of their existence in Division 1 where they have been one of the more successful clubs winning the D1 Championship on four occasions, the first being in 1979 and the last being 1999 when they achieved the league and cup double.

The club still has a way to go to reach the dizzy heights of Middlesbrough Mavericks who won the title 7 times during a period of dominance from 1997-2004 including 5 straight titles from 1999. The only other team in the leagues history to achieve 7 D1 titles was Billingham TC from 1958-1970.

In Division 1, this season's league title is still available with Hartlepool Heat emerging as strong contenders after beating local rivals; Hartlepool Hornets 62-77. Heat are currently in second place, 1pt behind Ormesby Tigers who have been the favourites since Christmas. Heat have one game in hand and only have 1 loss to Tigers' 2, which should provide Heat with the advantage, but with the first division being so strong and tight, a prediction would be too hard to make.