TILERY PRIMARY ON TOP IN NORTON TOURNAMENT
Tilery impress with dominant performance
 
Tilery 22-4 Norton; Tilery 22-4 F. Nattrass; F. Nattrass 12-2 Norton
 
Three schools within the Norton Cluster enjoyed a morning of basketball last week as Tilery, Norton and Frederick Nattrass all took part in the Norton Basketball Tournament. The event was organised by Norton Cluster SSCO (school sports coordinator); Mark Rhodes and supported by Game Time Sports Management.

Click images to enlarge Norton (green) and F. Nattrass leap
 
Elise is awarded the MVP (most valuable player) and wins a Game Time T-Shirt
 
The first game was between Tilery and Norton with Tilery both starting and finishing strong. Norton were struggling to find their feet as Tilery took advantage scoring 18 points in a row before Norton made two baskets late in the game. The final score was 22-04 in favour of the home team; Tilery.
 
Tilery were in high spirits after such a dominant performance in the first game and the next game was against Frederick Nattrass. Frederick Nattrass started fairly well and for the most part played good defence, they just couldn't get their shots to drop into the basket. Tilery, however, continued their blistering form and were scoring from all positions. This game also finished 22-04 in favour of Tilery.
 
The final game was between Frederick Nattrass and Norton. On paper the game provided a good match up and hinted a more even contest. Both teams played well although no one score in the first four minutes. Frederick Nattrass opened the scores and never looked back as they continued to pile on pressure against the Norton side. The score finished 12-02 in favour of Frederick Nattrass.
 
With two wins in two games, Tilery were the winners and lifted the Trophy as Champions. They now enter into the Stockton Borough Finals against other Primary cluster winners to be held at Billingham Campus School, the new home of Game Time's Basketball Centre of Excellence and Stockton Lions.
 
Champions Tilery lift the Trophy
 
 
 
Mark Rhodes teaches PE and Maths at Norton Secondary School and has been organising the annual tournament for five years now, the previous winners being Frederick Nattrass, who won the cup on their home court in March 2006.
 
This year Frederick Nattrass and Tilery Primary have enjoyed some professional coaching from Game Time prior to the tournament and this was evident in the way both teams played, unfortunately outshining Norton primary.
 
Ryan Robinson shoots for Tilery against Norton Primary
 
Game Time visit Frederick Nattrass twice a week and deliver both a classroom session and after school club at Tilery. Both Schools have noticed positive effects from the presence of Game Time, who use the sessions as a reward for good behaviour. Children who misbehave are not allowed to play basketball.
 
Lauren Buckle prepares to shoot for Frederick Nattrass
The Head of PE for Frederick Nattrass was full of praise for Game Time's James Thomson and his sessions. Mrs McArthur said "Since James took over coaching, discipline and positive reinforcement have been excellent with both year groups taught (Y4 and Y6). The children look forward to the basketball sessions with Game Time and we are even making arrangements to continue the sessions after the Cluster funding finishes."
Norton try to score against the impressive Tilery
 
Game Time brought the professional touches to the tournament with an official scoreboard, certificates, Most Valuable Player (MVP) award and prizes. With everything in place the children arrived at Tilery Primary School and took part in a warm up led by Mark Rhodes. After this the teams returned to their benches ready for the tournament to begin.
  
MVP Elise Matthews controls the ball for Tilery
 
 
(c) Game Time