Middlesbrough Lions basketball match report

Lions Record Highest Points Tally in League

at Eston Sports Academy, 13/12/09

photos by Paul Gaythorpe of PK4images

Middlesbrough Lions 115-73 Reddish Rebels

Middlesbrough Lions made it back to back wins and in emphatic fashion as they hit the league’s highest score with 115pts over the Reddish Rebels at Eston Sports Academy. Lions have finally found their form in recent weeks and this performance sent a clear message around the league for anyone that still held doubts after their tricky start. Lions were still without a number of players including twin towers, Hanson and Marshall but every Middlesbrough player stepped up with 6 players scoring double figure points.

Lions jumped ahead in the first play as Acho Anyigbo passed to Damian Warriner for the easy bucket. David Priestman replied instantly for Reddish, but Warriner was not to be out done as he drove through a crowd for his 4th point. In the fourth minute Lions were 1pt ahead but this would be extended dramatically as James Thomson nailed two consecutive 3 pointers to inspire a 14-2 run with only Barry Plummer responding for Rebels.
Anyigbo was pivotal in the first quarter as he drew three fouls from Reddish danger man; Plummer which resulted in the big man taking an early break. Anyigbo would make 3 of 4 from the line to extend the lead to 14. At the end of the quarter a basket apiece from Lions Thomson and Rebels big man; Ash Read took the scores to 27-14 in favour of the home team.

Utility man; Rob Parsons was on hand to make a nice jump shot followed by a great reverse lay up after the nice pass from Anyigbo. Lee Norton was also continuing his current good form as last games top scorer turned provider with 5 assists already. As Middlesbrough stretched their lead to 16pts the deflated Rebels found a spark with Steve Harrison making a 3 pointer though the spark would be extinguished when Norton rained in a brace of 3 pointers. Parsons continued to impress with another basket and two free throws and by the sixth minute Lions were storming ahead 43-17. The Rebels had no answer for Middlesbrough and despite a spirited performance led by some nice blocks from Plummer, which was admirable considering their predicament, they would find further trouble coming their as Anyigbo, Warriner and Norton combined to push Lions into a commanding 30pt lead. 5pts including a nice 3 pointer from Dixon would give Lions their biggest lead of the game at 35 although a last gasp shot from Phil Lane earned the visitors the last points of the half to take the score to 56-24.

Lions suffered a blip in the third quarter and had to rely on five 3 pointers to save face as the visitors managed to equal the 25pts Lions would hit. Plummer, who had been contained to just 4pts in the first quarter awoke with determination as the big man amassed 15pts including another 2 blocks. Warriner was Lions best player in the third with 9pts including a huge 3 pointer from 6 feet behind the line. The concern was after hitting only 24pts in the first two quarters, the Rebels had now hit 25 in just one. Lions coach; Simon Nicholls was quick to explain saying “We switched our defence to try some new tactics and although Rebels took advantage, it was important for us to explore different options and test our character.”

The final quarter was again fairly even with Warriner and Norton pitting their wits against Alex McGill in the early exchanges. In the fourth minute Reddish produced their biggest unanswered run of 5pts, but a halt was quickly called as Thomson made a lay up followed by a cool finish from Warriner as the strong guard powered to the basket. Norton hit another big 3 in the seventh minute and took the Lions over the hundred mark with a drive through three defenders. Plummer maintained his impressive presence with another two baskets but with two minutes left, there was little the Rebels could do, especially when 15 year old duo, Marshall Patterson and Jordan Nicholls entered the game with the former hitting a 3 and Nicholls first mark being a rebound and put back. In the last shot of the game, Norton finished a difficult reverse lay up to earn the Lions the honour of scoring the highest number of points in a game this season at 115.

In the chase for honours, the MVP could have gone to a number of Lions and special mention must be made to an inspirational display by Rebels Plummer who hit 25pts, 7 rebounds & 5 blocks. Lions own blocking machine, Anyigbo, was just outdone, finishing with 4, but he collected an incredible 17 rebounds, 5 steals & 6 assists along with his 16pts. Warriner, Parsons, Dixon Thomson added 24, 16, 11 & 10pts respectively with Thomson adding another 6 assists and if this wasn’t enough Lee Norton not only top scored with 30pts but gained an incredible 10 assists for the double-double along with 6 steals. With such a close call between Norton and Anyigbo for the MVP, a closer inspection of the stats would give Anyigbo the slightest of nods ahead as the Nigerian star was 100% from floor shooting and 60% from the line. His rebounds, steals, assists & blocks were incredible and it’s not often a player who hits 30pts & 10 assists will be outshined.

Lions can take plenty of positives from this game with a lot of good performances combining for over 50% shooting for the first time this season. Anyigbo at 100% from 2pt field goals and Thomson at 100% from 3pt field goals led the cast well as Warriner, Parsons, Norton and Dixon were 64%, 60%, 50% & 50% respectively. The only downside in the game from Lions perspective was complacency at times on defence. Whenever a team commands a strong lead they are always susceptible to complacency and the defensive intensity must be maintained throughout to ensure a truly great victory. Allowing the Rebels 49pts in the second half provided the Middlesbrough coaching staff with the knowledge that there is still room for improvement despite a telling victory.

Top scorers
Lions: Norton 30, Warriner 24, Anyigbo 16, Parsons 14, Dixon 11, Thomson 10
Rebels: Plummer 25, Priestman 16, Yates 8, Lane 6, Read 6