Spectacular Season Finishes in Style (From The Northern Echo)

Spectacular Season Finishes in Style

11:12pm Thursday 15th May 2008 in Tees College & Schools League By James Thomson

Schools Basketball in association with Game Time Birthday Party's & Principul PSD

The Tees Schools League completed its first very successful season with a late surge from High Tunstall of Hartlepool to secure the Year 11 league title. High Tunstall had not played any games before Christmas but a good 41-32 victory over the traditionally strong Northfield School set them off on the right track. The next win over league leaders; Norton Knights by 4pts, 33-29 provided the Hartlepool School with the best possible start. A 31-23 win over Grangefield School and two default wins earned High Tunstall the league title, 2pts ahead of Norton Knights. Norton claimed some revenge two weeks ago as they beat the league winners 31-30 in the County Cup Final.

St Michaels didn't enjoy the best of seasons, as they failed to complete any games and finished bottom of the league.

Norton could and should have been Year 10 Champions but a bold decision to forfeit the remaining 2 games by head coach; Mark Rhodes due to pupil behaviour and lack of commitment enabled Blakeston Bulls, 1pt ahead on 17 league pts for the season, to pip them to the honour, even though they had played 1 less game and suffered 1 more defeat. Both teams had won 5 games and Norton had lost only once where Bulls had tasted defeat twice. Norton would have gained 2 additional pts just for playing the last 2 games. In a brave and commendable move by Mr Rhodes, who had met with the department heads and collectively decided that an important message must be delivered to those representing the school that pupils must be on their best behaviour and fully committed to the team. The fortunes of Blakeston have been helped by the coming of age of Liam McBride, who has enjoyed a tremendous season culminating in a league and cup double. Bulls Head Coach; Mike Garthwaite has developed a basketball power school at Blakeston, Stockton and with 3 teams in the County Cup Finals and finishing 2nd in Year 7&8 and 1st in Year 9&10 the school can be more than proud of their achievements this season.

Guisborough Giants, of Laurence Jackson School failed to play any games in the Year 10 league, finishing bottom of the 10 teams. Redcar Mariners faired only slightly better in 9th place with 2 losses from 2 games played, but the potential is there, especially considering they only lost by 2pts to Norton, 41-43. With rising star; David Budd, if they can fulfil their full fixture list next season, they will be competing for the title.

Year 9 has been dominated by the unbeaten form of Blakeston Bulls who went 7 games without defeat to clinch the title. Damian McKenzie has been the player of the season for Bulls, collecting the MVP award 6 times from 7 games with talented guard, Matthew Garbutt collecting in the other game. McKenzie is also the leading scorer for Year 9 with 86pts for the season. The runners up; Manor Heat and 3rd placed Norton were the only teams to win games.

The Year 8 league was where the records were broken this season as Nunthorpe Lions dominated proceedings from start to finish. Nunthorpe won the league with an amazing 9 games undefeated spell including 2 record scores of 63-6 over Hartlepool's Dyke House and then 81-6 over Kings Academy. Kings Academy and Macmillan Academy are two developing sides and although have struggled this season, never let their heads drop, kept going and will be better for the experience next season, especially with such strong support from their staff.

Blakeston Bulls were runners up and Manor College finished in 3rd. Dan Brown of Nunthorpe has been outstanding in his contribution this season, collecting 223pts with team mate Philip Findlay on 158 and with two such high scorers, its easy to see why Nunthorpe were so successful.

In the Girls U16 league, High Tunstall dominated with Jazz Bradley, Jess Coates and Laura Howe providing a three pronged attacking force to lift the league and cup double. Grangefield were in 2nd place but only played 2 games and could have provided a bigger challenge if they had managed to fulfil more fixtures. Incidentally the Girls U16 was the worst league for games fulfilment with 4 teams not playing any games.

The Girls U14 league was won by Nunthorpe Lions, who completed the league and cup double. Jess Doyle and Sam Holmes have led by example this season and coach, Darren Bunn is more than happy not only for the success of all his teams this season but the potential for next. "Basketball is already a major sport for us and we are planning to ensure are players are even better prepared for next season." added Mr Bunn.

Year 7 was a non starter this year as only 1 game was played between Egglescliffe Explosion and Blakeston Bulls, Explosion wining the game 26-10. It is difficult to know what players you will have in Year 7 and there have been suggestions that Year 7 would be better combined with Year 8 to allow players to filter into an already established team, rather than entering a team, only to discover you don't have enough players. These suggestions will be discussed at the Tees Schools League AGM which will take place at Macmillan Academy, Middlesbrough at 4.15pm on Tuesday 27th May.

All the winners, League, County Cup and individual awards including coach of the year and players of the year will be presented at the Presentation Evening for basketball on Saturday 24th May from 7pm-11.30pm at the Thistle Hotel in Middlesbrough. Tickets are still available at only £3, but spaces are limited. Visit www.game-time.co.uk or call 01642 814221 or more details.

Game Time is planning the development of a College & 6th form basketball league with interest from Macmillan Academy, Prior Pursglove, Queen Elizabeth and Hartlepool 6th Form already confirmed. The league will follow the same format as the Schools League and will benefit from the website coverage and updates plus local press coverage. Fixtures will follow the same format as the schools league initially with Colleges arranging their own games to afford flexibility. Any interested colleges should contact James Thomson on 01642 814221 or visit www.game-time.co.uk