The
glory days of basketball
returned to Eston Sports Academy
with a big, vocal and
enthusiastic crowd cheering on
Middlesbrough Lions from all
sides of the court in the
National Founders Cup.
Middlesbrough Lions qualified
for the knock out stages after
beating fellow contenders
Darfield from Barnsley 77-61
Before the game the scenario was
simple, Lions needed to win by
thirteen points or more to
progress, anything less would
see them knocked out of this
years tournament and they were
aided not only by the loud crowd
but by some energetic
cheerleaders from Stockton
Parent Support and DJ Principul
along with sound effects and a
commentator which all together
produced a phenomenal atmosphere
enjoyed by all.
The game started at a fast pace
with Steve Butler being fouled
by Darfield's Mark Sawyer
shortly after the tip off. The
Barnsley outfit opened the
scoring with big man Jamie
Loftus but Lions edged
themselves in front with two
quick baskets from Damian
Warriner, unfortunately Warriner
was quickly replaced after
picking up two early fouls. The
Darfield defence was caught cold
several times as the experienced
Butler intercepted and scored
with ease, which edged the home
side into a comfortable 14-7
lead.
Lions
kept the visitors offensive unit
to long range shooting with
tight determined defending and a
high work rate on and off the
ball. The Middlesbrough based
side then stretched the lead to
ten points with baskets from
Bryson, Dixon and Woolams but in
the final seconds of the quarter
the visitors pegged the score
back to 19-11 after a strong
display from Jamie Loftus.
The second session was a carbon
copy of the first with Lions
dominating long periods and only
Kyle Stylan for Darfield
troubling the Lions defence
around the basket. Darfield then
suffered a major set back when
Jamie Loftus had to leave the
court with a cut right hand.
Loftus was the leading scorer
for the visitors and the
visitors would be keen to have
him taped up and back into the
game. In his absence, Butler
sank the first three pointer of
the game and also give Warriner
space to drive through the back
pedalling defence. Thomson added
a nice shot and a lay up at the
mid way point to maintain the
10pt cushion after Stylan hit a
nice jump shot over Lee Woolams,
but Middlesbrough struggled to
reach the magic 13pt mark
required to progress. With two
minutes remaining in the half
Clayton made a rare fast break
with Lions failing to get back
on defence and in the next play,
after another fast break was
halted by a Mark Finmore foul,
Mark Sawyer converted both
attempts. Lions replied with
Warriner and Butler but two
missed free throws from Lyle
would keep the half time score
at 38-27 and although
comfortable leaders, Lions still
had a bit more to do.
The
large crowd at half time were
entertained with a performance
by Hip Hop performer; Principul
who sung his version of Mario's
hit "You should let me love you"
and then a luck member of the
crowd had his ticket picked to
shoot a half court shot for a
chance to win £50.
Lions slept in after the break
and left Jez Lonsdale wide open
as he converted for the visitors
within seconds of the restart.
Ryan Dixon hit back immediately
for the Lions with a big three
to provide the crowd with
something to cheer for and
Butler again weaved his way
through a static defence to
complete an And 1 play after
being fouled by Swindell.
Darfield where on the back foot
and struggled when coach Terry
Lewis was forced to withdraw
their captain after he picked up
his fourth foul. The Yorkshire
club then missed a series of
easy lay ups and only a very
late revival from Stylan, Sawyer
and Williams kept the visitors
in the game as the third quarter
ended 56-47 to the Lions.
In
an incident packed fourth
quarter the visitors began the
stronger with seven quick points
including a big three pointer
from Joe Williams which closed
the game to within three points,
to provide some serious concern
for the Lions for what was the
first time in the game. The home
crowd responded well though as
they upped the volume and in the
fifth minute produced a 12-2 run
instigated by Rob Bryson who was
in athletic stride as he glided
to the basket to pick up a
rebound after a Thomson missed
lay up. The crucial run was
finished with two sailing threes
from Ryon Dixon which sent the
large partisan crowd into roars
of cheers. Warriner was then
re-introduced to the game for
the final four minutes to
provide energetic defence as the
Lions pressed the visitors into
near submission. Darfield would
score only two more points in
these four minutes, both from
free throws converted in the
final minute by Sawyer. Lions
though had a number of
opportunities to extend their
lead further still as five
players went to the foul line to
hit a poor 6 of 12 attempts,
after Darfield were left needing
to foul to stop the clock.
Darfield then let their tempers
slip, a result of frustration
which boiled over with a heated
exchange between Darfield coach
Lees and Jamie Loftus, leading
to a number of technical fouls
being awarded by the referees.
Aside of the poor 50% free throw
shooting the defence in the
remaining four minutes was
smothering and ensure Lions won
the game by 16pts.
After the game Lions coach;
James Thomson said "we were
comfortable leading by ten
points throughout the game but
struggled to extend to the magic
thirteen we needed to progress
into the final sixteen. With
four minutes remaining, it
all changed and we showed great
character as a team to pull off
a the 16 point win. We had a big
crowd today which had a major
influence on the game.
Lions will now play away to the winners of the
Midlands group; Kings Lynn Ironwolf on either
14th or 15th February. If the Lions can win this
game they will progress into the quarter final
of the competition.
