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Tees United Lions B 60-72 Hartlepool Hornets B

Lions B team were well under strength for their TBL league fixture against Hartlepool Hornets with starters Adam Walsh, Miles Sayer and the influential Matthew Brown all missing due to injury. Their absences though allowed the next generation of talent to come forward with 14 year old Marshall Patterson, 13 year old Dan Brown and 12 year old Patrick O'Connor all starting this game. Patterson was his usual solid self as he boxed out well to control his fair share of the rebounds but was quiet on offence. O'Connor was a revelation as he grabbed his opportunity of more minutes and actually played the majority of the game, collecting a respectable 9 points in the process. Another opportunity to make a mark was given to 13 year old Philip Findlay, who weaved his way through the defence for his first basket of the season in a great solo move. This, coupled with a solid performance from Chris Tappenden and a great offensive display by Lions' MVP Michael Peddie kept the Lions in the game right until the last five minutes when the game slipped away.

 

The game opened with Patrick O'Connor hitting two shots including a 3 pointer for Lions to prove he may be the youngest player in the league but he can play! Hornets though replied well with John Wrightson completing an And 1 play to instigate a 9-0 run. Michael Peddie was then introduced to the game and began his awesome display of fire power as he hit the remaining 10 points to tie the game 15-15.

 

The second quarter was much the same for Lions as Peddie made another 8 points to allow Lions to take the lead. Hornets Kathryn Lazenby kept the scores close with two fast breaks. The game then switched leads several times with Tappenden and Wrightson battling away inside the key and as the game reached the eighth minute the momentum was beginning to shift in favour of the Hornets. The run of Hornets play was disrupted momentarily as another of Lions youngsters, Philip Findlay, produced a spectacular drive to the basket as he broke free of two defenders to finish his move. Wrightson's 9 points in the space of six minutes was a boost for Hornets and gave the visitors a 9 point lead at the half time interval with the scores at 28-37.

 

In the third quarter Tappenden opened the scorer with a strong drive, followed by a super run of 6 points from Peddie to bring the Lions within 1 point and forcing Hornets chief, Bruce Marshall to call a Time Out. Hornets' Marshall, who had endured a difficult time on offence then hit 7 of his 9 points late on to help drive the Hartlepool side to a 47-53 lead at the end of the third, reduced slightly by a big 3 pointer from Tappenden.

 

Dave Dickinson went to the line early in the final quarter and made 1 of 2 attempts and shortly after Lions duo Tappenden and Peddie went to the line to convert only one apiece from 6 attempts. Had all six been made Lions would have led by 1 point. Instead Hornets stormed forward with a crushing 10-2 run, O'Connor breaking their run with a nice drive and pull up jump shot but little else going the way of the home team. The game then fizzled out with Wrightson and Dan Dixon running in a couple of fast breaks to seal the 12 point win for Hartlepool.

 

The MVP was awarded to John Wrightson who was impressive at both ends and finished with a season high 27 points. Wrightson's displays were the deciding factor in the game. Kathryn Lazenby also played well, collecting 10 points. Peddie was the hero for Lions with a game high 30 points.

 

Teams   Lions B Hornets B 00 2 3 10 14 17 18 22 23 32 34 65 Chris Tappenden* Patrick O'Connor* Michael Peddie Philip Findlay Marshall Patterson* Charlie Collins Chris Chapman Alan Slasor Dan Brown* Matthew Norman* Steph Edwards Nathan Duff 4 5 10 12 13 14 21 23   John Wrightson* Dave Dickinson Bruce Marshall* Chris Winter* Kathryn Lazenby* Dan Dixon Dave Kitson Sue Marshall*   Coach: James Thomson Asst Coach: Captain: Chris Tappenden Coach: Bruce Marshall Asst Coach: Captain: Bruce Marshall   Game MVP: John Wrightson   Top Scorers Lions: Peddie 30, Tappenden 15, O'Connor 9, Patterson 2, Norman 2, Findlay 2   Thunder: Wrightson 27, Lazenby 10, Marshall S 9, Marshall B 9, Dickinson 5, Dixon 5, Winter 2, Kitson 2

A superb performance by Michael Peddie was just pipped to the MVP by Hornet's John Wrightson.

 

 

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