Important Notice
For training schedule click
here and keep checking for updates
Mon & Wed Junior
Training back to 6-7pm at Mbro College for Summer
Wed Senior Training back
on 7-9pm at Mbro College
Sunday sessions
postponed until further notice
Basketball
on Holiday for Two Weeks
Due
to unforeseen circumstances, basketball will be
off at Middlesbrough College for two weeks. The
College sports hall is unavailable and sessions
should be back to normal from 17th August.
Basketball
Cancelled This Friday - 31/07/09
Basketball sessions at Middlesbrough College
have been cancelled this Friday due to an event
at Middlesbrough College. Please forward info to
relevant people.
Redcar & Cleveland Sports Development are
running a basketball session for players of all
abilities aged 16 and over at the Skelton
Learning & Leisure Hub, De Brus site, Skelton on
Thursdays from 5.30-6.30pm. The cost of each
session is £2. For more details contact Stephen
Mussett on 01642 496430.
Lions
Extend Partnership With TVL
 Middlesbrough
Lions have agreed to extend their partnership
with Tees Valley Leisure, operators of leisure
services in Redcar & Cleveland including the
home of Middlesbrough Lions; Eston Sports
Academy. Pictured in the Energy Fitness centre
at Eston are Middlesbrough owner; James Thomson
shaking hands with Angie McGee of TVL while to
the side are American Ralph Bucci and Nigerian
Acho Anyigbo.
Eston is a superb 1,200 capacity arena and has
played host to numerous high profile events in
recent times including boxing, concerts, crufts,
the antiques road show and last year
Middlesbrough Lions home games.
The arena was designed for basketball with a
wooden sprung floor, professional basketball
goals and seating stands each side of the court
providing a great atmosphere. American
professional; Ralph Bucci, who has just signed
for Iraklis in Greece has been training with
Middlesbrough Lions throughout the summer and
stated “Having played in England for six years I
would say Eston is one of the best basketball
arenas in the UK. I have been training with
Middlesbrough and working out in the Energy
fitness centre at Eston which is well equipped
with everything for professional athletes.”
For full article
click
here.
The
planned junior CVL for this Saturday has had to
be cancelled. Only Thirsk, Middlesbrough Lions
and Acklam Warriors had applied in time so ue to
the lack of response organisers felt it best to
cancel. It is thought that the low turn out is
due to schools preparing to break up for Summer
holidays and most clubs having less contact with
players as their training may have stopped for
Summer. Game Time along with TBL will aim to
look into this for future events.
Great Fun
Despite Downpour
 Torrential
rain brought an early conclusion to this years
Active Middlesbrough Day, but for the hundreds
of primary school children who took part in the
morning, it was a big thumbs up for the event.
Middlesbrough Lions along with Teesside
Basketball League, Game Time & Ravenwood Roofing
provided a superb basketball event for the third
annual Active Middlesbrough Day. James Thomson,
Acho Anyigbo and Iffy Nwokoro from the Lions
were on hand to deliver some basketball fun to
the hundreds of children whilst also adding a
few pieces of advice. James Thomson provided
some tricks including spinning the ball on his
finger and juggling three basketballs before
picking out children to attempt the tricks! With
not many of the youngsters able to produce the
tricks, the importance of practice was
encouraged. James Thomson added "The events were
25mins long so it was mainly about having some
fun with the kids and showing them what a
special and skilful sport basketball is. The
event went very well and everyone had fun,
including us so hopefully we reached a few
people and ignited a passion for basketball."
For full article and
photos click
here.
Active
Middlesbrough Day 2009
Middlesbrough Lions and Teesside Basketball
League will be providing a basketball display at
this years Active Middlesbrough day on Friday
3rd July. The Lions & TBL organised basketball
for the event last year and introduced over 500
Middlesbrough Primary youngsters to the
beautiful game. This year a higher number is
anticipated and the children will be able to
experience a range of sports from basketball to
netball and table tennis in an effort by
Middlesbrough Council to encourage youngsters
into a healthier lifestyle. Organiser; Jimmy
Wattis spoke very highly of the basketball last
year and is looking forward to another
successful event.
Jimmy is also encouraging support for the
Middlesbrough 10k run and is hoping to attract
over 5,000 runners for this years event which
takes place on Sunday 6th September.
Middlesbrough Lions are aiming to run round in
their uniforms.... will you join us??
The
basketball action will run from 9am til 3pm on
Friday 3rd July.
Fun in
Park For Fathers Day
There was plenty of fun to be had at
Pallister Park last Sunday as basketball
enthusiasts came together for some outdoor hoops
in the sun with a slight twist. To celebrate
Fathers day, dads were encouraged to join in
with the drills, competitions and finally a game
against the kids. The action was at times too
much to bear for some of the dads and on more
than one occasion were a little delayed on their
game time's as they attempted to savour every
moment of rest they could. With the Kids running
circles round the ankles of their fathers, the
dads had to use their height and strength to
their advantage. There were a few incidents of
fouling from the dads, some unintentional and
others tactical as they attempted to get one
over the little blighters, because if they
didn't, they would be reminded all day and most
of the week.
All in all the day
was great fun and enjoyed by everyone. For full
article and photos click
here.
Lee Latest
To Join Lions!
 Middlesbrough
Lions have captured the highly rated shooting
guard; Lee Norton from Wear Valley Warriors in
their fourth pre season signing. The addition of
Norton will add serious firepower to the Lions
offence with the 26 year old from Sunderland
hitting big numbers where ever he has played.
Norton’s best scoring season was in the 2004/05
Teesside Basketball League season where he
averaged 42 points per game in an incredible
personal performance which helped Hartlepool
Hornets to the league and cup double. Before
this, Lee had attended the renowned East Durham
Basketball Academy where he was nicknamed
‘Platinum Wrists’ due to his impressive shooting
skills. He enjoyed a successful three year
period at the College and during this time led
his team to the National League U18’s League
Title and Final Four runner up. There was then
the opportunity to represent his country in a
Academy organised event in Holland where England
triumphed and Lee was again an integral part of
the success.
Lee has fond memories of his College playing
days and attributes a lot of his success down to
his Academy Coach; Bob Martin. “I believe he is
the best coach I have ever met, he taught me so
much about the game and developed me as a
player.” said Norton, “I started playing
basketball at a relatively young age of 15
through Joy Howden and the East Durham Academy
at the time was the National Basketball Academy
so the best players around the country were
fighting for a place and thankfully impressed
the coaches to gain a place and have achieved
many amazing experiences.”
One experience Lee will never forget was his
taste of top flight basketball with Newcastle
Eagles when he played during an Anglo-Scottish
Tournament. Norton was invited to play at the
tender age of just 17 but rather than be happy
going along for the ride, Norton was keen to
stamp an impact on the game and against St
Mirren was quoted in the press to have ‘turned
on the style’ after scoring nine straight points
to claw back the game for the Eagles.
At 26 years old, Norton is not even at his peak
and views his signing for Middlesbrough as
another step forward in his career. “I have
played at all levels and in various countries
and there is something exciting about the plans
at Middlesbrough Lions. I like the set up, the
feel of the club is very friendly, there is a
good fan base and they are very professional.
The team they are putting together is looking a
strong one and I think we can do very well this
season.” said Norton. “Coach Thomson invited me
to play in a friendly game during May and I was
very impressed. I think I probably made my
decision to sign right after the game.”
Lions Coach; Sid Nicholls is just as
enthusiastic about the latest signing. “We are
looking strong in a number of areas now. Lee has
an all round game with a sweet perimeter shot.
Some of his 3 pointers are so high, they come
down with snow on!”
Middlesbrough owner; James Thomson has indicated
that this may not be the last addition, but
along with the core of existing players the team
is starting to come together nicely. “Lee is a
major piece in our jigsaw and there are a few
more major pieces we would like to add, but we
hall have to wait and see.”
Lions are now looking to affiliate their
successful vehicle with local companies who
would like to be involved in a number of ways.
The club are looking for commercial partners and
advertisers who would like to benefit from
association with the high profile club and its
large community presence. For more details call
the club on 01642 814221
The
Junior CVL planned for June 27th has had to be
cancelled due to Middlesbrough College being
unavailable. The July 18th event is still
planned to go ahead if the demand is there
although the format may be modified as numbers
may be lower due to holidays.
Middlesbrough Lions Close to New Signing
Lions have revealed they are very close to
making their fourth new signing of the close
season after already securing the services of
tall trio; Acho Anyigbo, Dean Hanson and Andrew
Marshall for their debut season in National
League Division Four.
Lions are also set to reveal their fixture list,
although one fixture, against Tees Valley
Sonics, is in need of re-arranging due to Lions
home court being unavailable. Middlesbrough hope
to have confirmation from the Sonics club soon
to complete their home schedule at the
impressive Eston Sports Academy.
Sunday
Training & Dads Event at Pallister Park
Everyone is invited to a fun day in the park
this Fathers Day.
Sunday Training and Dads v Kids Fathers day
event will now be taking place at Pallister
Park, Ormesby rd, Middlesbrough TS3 7AP. The
event will be subject to nice weather as its on
an outdoor court and has had to be switched due
to late notice of Middlesbrough College being
unavailable. Middlesbrough College will be
unavailable the following weekend and Monday
29th June due to an event.
The
session at Pallister Park and also the Dads v
Kids event will now be only £1. Please pass on
details to others.
Senior Training is
now back on Wednesday 7-9pm as well as Friday
7-9pm.
Junior Training is
back on from 6-7pm on both Monday and Wednesday
for the Summer.
Senior Saturday
session cancelled for 27th June due to event.
National
League Junior Trials This Sunday
Middlesbrough Lions
are inviting all players to attend an open
trials day with the intention of selecting
National League teams for next season. The main
categories will be:
All
players who are interested in attending need to
be at Middlesbrough College before 9am. Sessions
will run this Sunday and next from
9-12noon
and cost
£3.
All other Sunday sessions will run as normal.
Leading the trials will be Middlesbrough Lions
Coach; Sid Nichols who is also head coach of the
Royal Navy. "We are looking for as many young
people to attend these sessions. We are not too
concerned about what standard you are at
currently, as you will be put through your paces
and taught the fundamental basics. From this we
will provide you with a review of your session
and a plan for your development." added Coach
Nichols. There will be a number of trials days
and camps in the following weeks and throughout
Summer. Keep checking local press and Game Time
website for updates.
Lions Walk
Tall With New Signings
 Middlesbrough
Lions have swooped in the transfer market yet
again with the double signing of two of the
leagues tallest players. Head of Lions; James
Thomson was pleased to announce today that 7’1
Dean Hanson and 6’10 Andrew Marshall have signed
for the club and along with recent addition;
Acho Anyigbo are already in training.
The pair, dubbed the ‘Twin Towers’ will provide
Lions with a significant height advantage over
most teams and Coach Thomson is looking forward
to them turning potential into conviction saying
“Both Dean and Marshall have a point to prove in
the basketball world and our job is to prepare
them for the start of the season so they are in
prime condition to make the club, the fans and
themselves proud.”
Marshall, 25 and Hanson, 24 have both played in
the USA with Marshall attending Colby College in
Kansas and Hanson plying his trade at Eastern
Arizona College for a season before returning to
the UK.
Marshall, who attended Northfield School,
Billingham is looking forward to getting his
career back on track after a knee injury and
added “Last year was one to forget both on and
off the court, but now my knee is stronger and
with the additional training package
Middlesbrough have provided I am looking forward
to the first game against Hull and especially
forward to the big game against Tees Valley
Mohawks on 27th September.” ‘Big Marsh’ as the
giant player is known used to play for Mohawks
and after an unsuccessful spell is looking
forward to a fresh start with Middlesbrough,
getting back to the standard he achieved junior
England trials with.
As big a threat as Marshall poses, the 7’1
shadow provided by Hanson is even more
intimidating with opposing players having to
change their shot just by Dean standing with his
hands up, although Coach Sid Nicholls is looking
to the big men as not only an important part of
the defence but a crucial part of offence. “It’s
important for us as coaches and a team to
identify advantages in our players. Having two
players at 6’10+ is a definite advantage and we
will be working them hard to ensure they are
available to us as an asset in our game plans.”
Dean who has travelled his basketball journey
via Kings Manor and Middlesbrough College is
raring to go saying “I am on a training
programme which is as intense as my time in the
States and this is the thing I like about
Middlesbrough, they are professional in every
aspect.”
Dean went on to say he is proud to be playing
for his home town club and is looking forward to
helping the team achieve special things “I am a
Middlesbrough boy and to represent my home club
is a special honour. I want to help the club do
well for the fans, who are excellent.”
Basketball
Stars Shine Bright At Presentation Evening
 Another
excellent turnout in the basketball world were
treated to a red carpet entrance at the plush
Thistle Hotel in Middlesbrough for the third
annual Game Time awards presentation.
The evening celebrated the
achievements of basketball
enthusiasts of all ages from
around the area. Within the
awards categories were Game
Time, Tees Schools League, Tees
College League, Tees Junior CVL,
Teesside Basketball League and
Middlesbrough Lions. All in all
over 390 medals and trophies
were presented.
In the Schools League the big
winners were Manor College Heat
but unfortunately they were
unable to attend and their
players missed out on the
opportunity to receive their
awards on such a big stage.
Nunthorpe Lions U14 & U16 teams
did well by winning the County
Cup Finals while a number of
individual players are beginning
to emerge as very talented
contenders for the Most Valuable
Players awards.
For
the full article and photos as
well as full list of nominees
and winners click
here.
Derby Cup
Test for Lions & Mohawks
Middlesbrough Lions have been drawn in the first
round of the National Cup against local rivals
Tees Valley Mohawks in what will be the biggest
challenge for the young Lions to date. The game
will take place on Sunday 27th September at
Lions impressive home; Eston Sports Academy with
a 4pm tip. Lions coach; Sid Nichols has welcomed
the draw adding "Mohawks are the established
side, playing Division One basketball so this
will provide a good opportunity for our players
to show what they are made of."
The
Teesside derby game will also provide a
thrilling prospect for local basketball fans
with a great atmosphere anticipated.
Middlesbrough Lions have a larger following than
their established rivals, attracting 280 to
their last game and are hoping the crowd will
spur them on to a memorable victory. Lions
owner; James Thomson is expecting the encounter
to be one of the biggest games on Teesside. "We
will be doing everything we can to ensure as
many people are cheering on Lions as possible.
Our team, by all rights, three divisions below
Mohawks, will be underdogs, but with nothing to
lose and everything to prove, I am expecting to
see an heroic performance from Middlesbrough and
a closely fought contest."
Middlesbrough Lions are certainly building a
talented team and the recent addition of
Nigerian leaper; Acho Anyigbo is just one of
several new signings in the pipeline. Lions are
looking to announce some more new faces in the
next few days.
Middlesbrough Lions
first game of the new season will be on Saturday
19th September away to Hull Wasps in the
National Shield.
Anyigbo
Signs For Middlesbrough
 Middlesbrough
Lions chief; James Thomson was pleased to
announce today, the capture of Nigerian
basketball star; Acho Anyigbo as the clubs first
new signing as the Middlesbrough club build
toward the new season in National League
Division 4. The capture of the 6’5 leaper is a
superb coup for Thomson and the Lions held off
strong pressure from rivals; Tees & Wear Valley
Supersonics who have also been chasing the star.
Anyigbo was due to return to Nigeria and was
considering a few offers from clubs around the
UK as well as in Nigeria but has pledged his
immediate future in Middlesbrough by signing a
one year contract with a view to extend. Club
owner and coach; James Thomson added “Acho was a
crucial part of our jigsaw and without piling on
any pressure we made it clear to him that he
would be an important member of our team. I
believe he is impressed with our club and has
the kind of character and ability with which we
want to associate with Middlesbrough Lions.
Ironically the big African has been on Teesside
for two years and was due to play for Tees
Valley Mohawks but a deal fell through at the
last moment. He has since been finishing his
degree in business management at Teesside
University, where he graduated last year. On the
basketball court he has been impressing scouts
with his natural rebounding ability and
athleticism to the extent that three local teams
were chasing his signature along with others
further afield.
 Anyigbo
is expecting a good year for Middlesbrough
adding “I was invited to play for Middlesbrough
in a couple of games at Eston Sports Academy
last month and I was very impressed. The club
certainly know how to put on a show and even I
was excited by the atmosphere.” When asked if it
was an easy decision to make, considering so
many clubs were chasing him he replied “I was
flattered by the interest but in the end I went
with my head and my heart and have a good
feeling about the direction Middlesbrough are
going. I am looking forward to playing in front
of 1,200 fans at Eston and I think the team
Coach Thomson is building is capable of doing
very well. I have seen what he has done in one
year so this next year should be a very special
one for basketball on Teesside.
With a promise of 100% in every game and at
training, the imposing yet infectious character
of Acho Anyigbo is raring to go and even
cancelled his trip to Nigeria to instead
concentrate on pre season training with
Middlesbrough. “His dedication is fantastic, we
could not ask for much more. He has even asked
to be involved with our junior coaching, which
is good for the club and our younger players to
have someone of his stature not only present but
actively involved." finished James.
Presentation A Roaring Success
This
years Game Time presentation evening was a
roaring success as the stars of the local
basketball world collected honours and
recognition for their achievements. A full list
of nominees and winners in all categories will
be online soon.
Red Carpet For Stars
of Basketball World
 Its that time of
year again, the time to celebrate all the
hard work on and off the court for those in
the local basketball world. Schools,
Colleges, local clubs and players will all
be hoping to hear their names being called
in what will be the ultimate recognition for
their achievements.
The third annual Game Time presentation
evening takes place on Saturday 30th May and
this event promises to be bigger and better
than ever before. Guests will be welcomed to
the splendid venue by a red carpet, setting
the plush trend for the night which will
feature guest presenters, ambient lighting,
formal seating tables, large screen
projector and many, many awards.
Last year over
200 people attended the occasion in what was
a first for the area. The success and sheer
scale of last years event
received many accolades from attendees and
Game Time have a job in hand to try to
better this years. One thing that will be
bettered is the number of trophies with over
300 medals and 70+ individual awards.
Guest presenters include Ralph Bucci, an
American professional basketball player who
has just won the Greek National A2 League
and is flying into Teesside in time to
attend the function. Councillor for Sport,
Brenda Thompson will also be present as will
Ian Donley; Deputy Managing Director of Tees
Valley Leisure, operators of Eston Sports
Academy, home of Middlesbrough Lions. Rob
Nichols of FMTTM (Fly me to the moon, MFC
fanzine) and Chairman of TBL; Wade Tovey are
also confirmed and Game Time are hopeful of
adding one or two more names to the list.
Friends and
family are more than welcome to attend.
For more
information, click
here.
Queen
Elizabeth Crowned Kings!
 Queen
Elizabeth overcame a strong start from
Middlesbrough College in the semi final to
progress to the final against Prior Pursglove
Pumas, who narrowly beat Darlington Tech. Dan
Halford was proving too much for the opposition
players as the big forward performed well both
inside and outside the perimeter to help his
Darlington based team lift the first ever Tees
College Playoff Final trophy in front of a
generous crowd. Both officials and spectators
alike agreed that the college final was one of
the best games of the weekend and the event was
enjoyed by everyone who attended.
The
newly inaugurated Mayor of Redcar & Cleveland,
Mayor Brian Briggs was on hand to witness the
memorable event and present the winning College
and U16 teams with their trophies whilst also
adding how impressed he was with the whole
event.
The
standard throughout the event has been extremely
impressive and hard work, blood, sweat and tears
will have to be sacrificed yet again as teams
plan for next season with another finals visit,
a must!
For full report and
photos click
here.
Manor &
Nunthorpe Provide Sweep of Schools Finals
 This season's finals event was
so big it had to be scheduled
over a whole weekend and with 14
semi finals and finals to be
played, organisers; Game Time
had their work cut out to ensure
a smooth operation. Thankfully,
the event was a huge success not
only providing players from
across the area an opportunity
to experience a day in the life
of a professional basketball
player in front of an excellent
and voice-full crowd but also in terms of the
standard of basketball on
display.
There were heartache and tears
from the losing sides and huge
disappointment from those who
had lost out at the semi final
stage but in the end all will
remember a great experience for
the rest of their lives and for
those lucky enough to still be
at school or college next year
they will have an additional
incentive to work that little
bit harder to ensure their team
makes the Finals 2010.
This year head of Game Time and
Middlesbrough Lions; James
Thomson, who also organises the
schools and college league was
on hand to coordinate the event
and present the trophies along
with Mayor Brian Briggs who was
very impressed with Game Time
and the amount of young
basketball enthusiasts taking
part both in terms of playing
and support in the crowd. "This
has been a fantastic event and I
am hoping that I can hep this
organisation develop even
further during my tenure as
Mayor."
For
full article and photos click
here.
Lions Fall
At Final Hurdle!
Middlesbrough Lions
63-78 Newcastle All Stars
Middlesbrough
Lions topped off a weekend of
schools & college finals at
Eston Sports Academy with a
showcase game against Newcastle
All Stars, in aid of the Daisy
Chain Charity. The All Stars were a
mix of Newcastle based players
from Tyne Met Trojans, Team
Northumbria and Newcastle Eagles
U18’s bringing one of the most
talented teams to Eston this
season. Also in attendance were
the new Mayor & Mayoress of
Redcar & Cleveland, who were
both very impressed with
Middlesbrough Lions and their
efforts for young enthusiasts.
For full match report and photos, click
here.
Darlington
& QE On Way To Finals Event
Queen Elizabeth College overcame a strong
challenge from Redcar Rhinos although in the end
24pts from Richie Summerbell and 18pts from Dan
Halford were enough to record a 35pt win. Redcar
enjoyed their best periods in the second and
third quarters with Steve Jones and Kemroy
Wallace adding 14pts apiece. Joe McCormick also
played well for the Rhinos but in the end the
strength of QE was just too much. Ian Donoghue
was awarded the MVP for his excellent defence
and hard work throughout the game whilst also
adding 7pts. QE will now face Middlesbrough
College in one of two semi finals this Sunday
which should provide two games of the season.
Darlington 96-16 Macmillan Magic
Darlington hosted a Macmillan side who have
struggled this season and travelling with a few
key players missing, the Middlesbrough side were
always going to face an uphill struggle.
Darlington progress to the semi final against
Prior Pumas.
Pumas &
Middlesbrough Through To Semis
Hartlepool 6th Form 79-92 Prior Pumas
Prior Pumas earned a
pass into the semi final of the Tees College
League play offs with a 79-92 victory at
Hartlepool 6th Form College. A 6pt win over
Pumas earlier in the season along with a strong
finish in the league made third placed
Hartlepool favourites over sixth placed Prior
Pumas. Prior have also been missing players in
recent games and their final game of the regular
season was a disjointed 3pt loss to Darlington.
Prior though raised their game in Hartlepool and
with a full squad were able to douse the threat
of the home team early on, paying particular
attention to star guard; Luke Musgrave.
Hartlepool struggled to contain Prior from the
off as Matthew Brown hit 19 of his teams 27pts
in the first quarter alone. The Hurricanes
managed just 14pts with Musgrave contained to
8pts. Chris Emmerson played well for the
visitors in the second quarter and at half time
Prior led by 14pts, 35-49. At the end of the
third quarter, Prior were now cruising
comfortably ahead with Jack Sanders hitting his
16th point of the game in the seventh minute of
the period. With three high scoring players,
Hartlepool were struggling to protect their
basket. Luke Musgrave would again reach a high
total of 37pts and was supported well by Dave
Kitson on 17 but with only six players on the
team they tired as the game continued and with
Prior showing no signs of taking the foot
off the gas and finished the game winners by
13pts. Matthew Brown was the games MVP, top
scoring with 42pts. Jack Sanders was also in
excellent form with 22pts.
Middlesbrough 90-42 Stockton 6th Form
At Middlehaven,
Middlesbrough College entertained Stockton 6th
Form and ran out comfortable winners with a
90-42 score line. The game started very well for
the hosts as Dexter Munzara inspired a 18-4 run
by the fifth minute. Matt Rudzik was a constant
threat under the boards at both ends of the
court and Stockton were struggling to cope with
the athleticism of Middlesbrough. At the end of
the first quarter the home team were well in
control 38-08.
During the second quarter a revitalised
performance from Stockton earned some respect as
they actually beat Middlesbrough 17-20. Gaunt
was excellent during this period, adding 10pts
while Danny Kemp continued to impress with his
tenacious defence and superb passing. Kemp has
been a catalyst for so many good things in the
Stockton team this season and his presence on
court was contributing more than just points. At
the end of the half Middlesbrough were ahead
55-28. Polish star; Matt Rudzik already had
20pts at the interval for Middlesbrough.
In
the second half, Middlesbrough tightened up
their defence, restricting the visitors to 10pts
whilst adding 22. Musa Khanye and Michael Peddie
combined well for the home side. The final
quarter was a low scoring affair, 14-04 in
favour of Middlesbrough who finished winners by
48pts. Matt Rudzik top scored with 26pts and was
awarded game MVP. Peddie gave good support on
25pts.
Both results mean
Middlesbrough and Prior Colleges will be heading
to the semi finals this Sunday at the Tees
Finals Event in Eston Sports Academy. They now
await their opponents in Queen Elizabeth or
Redcar Rhinos and Darlington or Macmillan Magic.
Finals
Weekend is Nearly Here!
 This
weekend Game Time along with Ravenwood Roofing &
Tees Valley Leisure will be hosting a mammoth
weekend of basketball topped off with a charity
basketball game between Middlesbrough Lions and
Newcastle All stars at Eston Sports
Academy.
Eston Sports Academy will open its doors to a
feast of basketball which will begin at 10am
Saturday and feature an incredible 14 semi
finals and finals. Sunday will again begin at
10am and support is encouraged after such a
successful event last season. Nunthorpe School
brought over 70 people to support their teams
and helped to generate a carnival atmosphere.
More than 250 people watched the Year 11 final
last season and it is hoped that a large crowd
will attend to help make the day memorable for
all players involved.
Tickets are £3 each
and available at main reception of Eston Sports
Academy on the day. For more information click
here.
Due
to exams in the college sports hall, there will
be no basketball this Sunday or next due to the
Finals event at Eston.
Lions
Entry into D4 Signals Big Step Toward Success
Middlesbrough Lions have been notified by
England Basketball that their application for
entry into National League Division 4 has been
successful. The news represents a significant
step forward for a club that has only been
formed for two years. In this short space of
time, Middlesbrough Lions have a developed a
huge community profile and attracted large
crowds of 250+ at home games during this seasons
campaign in the National Founders Cup. On the
court, the team reached the final 16 of the
competition, losing out to the eventual
finalists; Kings Lynn Ironwolf. Off the court
the club has one of the best home game set ups
in the country. Sheffield Sharks coach; Steve
Barnett is one of the leading junior development
coaches in the UK and commented after visiting
Middlesbrough “We were made to feel very welcome
at Middlesbrough and entered the court to an NBA
style intro with music, announcer and a
spotlight!”
The attention to detail in all aspects of the
game day entertainment is fast gaining
Middlesbrough a reputation as one of the most
enjoyable venues to play professional level
basketball outside of the BBL (British
Basketball League) and some would argue to
include several BBL outfits. Adrian Bewick is
responsible for game day entertainment and
ensuring all runs smoothly off the court
including a sound effects board which provides
comical sounds throughout the game when players
miss shots and other effects to generate crowd
involvement. Mr Bewick said “A lot of work goes
into the planning and research and then the game
day involves an eight hour shift, but the end
result of 284 fans at the last game cheering and
shouting along with the music and sound effects
is very special and worth the effort. We are
already planning a few surprises for next
season.”
On the court, Lions head; James Thomson will be
looking to strengthen his squad as the club
prepare for a feast of fixtures compared to last
season. The additional fixtures though is
actually welcomed by Coach Thomson. “As a club,
we just didn’t have enough home games and
actually went two months without a game at
Eston, which makes it harder to develop a fan
base.” The club enjoyed an attendance of 250 at
Darfield late January and 60 against Northumbria
in early April. The final game against Menwith
Hill on 19th April attracted the biggest crowd
of the season at 284. The club are now preparing
a large scale marketing campaign to attract new
fans with the additional bonus of what should be
an exciting home game every fortnight.
“We have identified key areas of the squad which
are in need of strengthening, although the core
of the team was very good this season, we have
endured a terrible run of injuries and we don’t
want to be caught short this again.” added Coach
Thomson. Although no new player signings have
been officially announced, one signing that has
been confirmed is Coach Sid Nicholls, who will
continue with the Lions for a second term. Coach
Nicholls is highly regarded at the club and
brings a wealth of experience as the head coach
of the Royal Navy. Coach Thomson welcomed the
news adding “Sid is an important part of the
club and we were keen to secure his services for
another season. His knowledge and tactical
awareness will benefit all our players, both
developing and established.”
The club are staying tight lipped regarding new
signings, but hope to make some big
announcements in the near future.
The
messages of support have been flooding in with
Rob Nicholls, editor of FMTTM and Lions fan
adding "Congratulations at being accepted in the
National League, that is absolutely fantastic in
such a short space of time. A result of
brilliant work on the event, with the team and
in the community. I am amazed at everything you
have achieved and look forward to the new
season."
Lions Gain
National D4 Status
Middlesbrough Lions have been granted National
League Division 4 status following a very
successful season both on and off the court in
only their second year of existence. The good
news was delivered by Nicky Brown; National
Leagues Manager for England Basketball and
represents a crucial step forward for the club
and an opportunity to build on the success of
last season with a home fixture list of around
15 games to keep the players and fans happy.
Have your say on the Game Time message forum.
Schools &
College League Deadline
The
Tees Schools & College League deadline has now
passed. All results submitted on the 30th April
or before will now be collated today. The final
eight positions of the college league will
represent the seedings for the play offs with
team 1 playing team 8 and so on. The semi finals
and finals of the schools county cup and college
play offs will be played at Eston Sports Academy
on 16 & 17th May with the exception of the U14 &
U16 girls competitions which will feature the
finals only.
Thirsk,
UCA & Richmond Crowned Champions!
 The second junior CVL took place on 25th April
at Middlesbrough College and the outcome of
today's games would determine the final
standings in the U12, U16 & 1U18 leagues. There
were a few casualties even before the event as
Middlesbrough Lions, Game Time Gorillas and
Richmond Vikings were missing a number of
players leading to an amalgamated Lions and
Gorillas with Gorillas having to forfeit their
remaining games and Richmond unable to bring
their U16 squad and subsequently forfeiting
their remaining games.
In the U12 league it was business as usual for
Thirsk Vikings as swept aside Hartlepool Heat A
17-07 to extend their unbeaten run from last
month. The Thunder continued in this rich vein
of form to clinch the U12 Championship, winning
all ten games in the process.
Lions David Budd was the top scorer in the U16
league as he guided Middlesbrough into second
place just two points behind UCA. Matthew Hayes
was close behind with 22pts for Tees Valley
Tigers.
The
high scoring Mark Williams of Richmond hit 66pts
in the U18 league of last months CVL and another
fine performance of 54pts helped Richmond secure
the title.
For
photos, results and stats visit the Tees CVL
section.
Lions Hold
Off Late American Surge To Take Win!
Middlesbrough Lions 70-67 Menwith Hill Cavaliers
 In front of the biggest crowd of
the season and Mayor of Redcar &
Cleveland; Mike Findley,
Middlesbrough Lions held off a
late surge from American side,
Menwith Hill Cavaliers to earn a
3pt win in front of 283 fans.
The game started rather
nervously after an exciting
intro routine with the mascots.
Both teams would fail to mark
the score sheet until the second
minute when Alex Moore gave the
crowd reason to applaud with a
left hand lay up following a
great series of passes between
Damian Warriner and Tyrone
Thomas with Warriner landing the
assist. The Cavaliers response
was almost immediate as big man;
Sam Little powered to the
basket. After a Lions turnover,
the Cavaliers then capitalised
with a lovely drive from Dave
Macklin, but rather than
crumble, the Lions galvanised
with Acho Anyigbo and Dean
Hanson controlling the boards at the defensive
end and then pushing the ball forward for three
consecutive fast breaks.
For full match
report, stats and photos click
here.
This game will be
featured in tomorrows Evening Gazette.
Manor
Creep Ahead In Schools Leagues!
 Manor
Heat have crept ahead to go top in every league
from U14 girls to U16 boys after claiming a
number of victories to provide an exciting
climax to the current season as teams scramble
to fulfil their fixtures before the 30th April
deadline. The season is not yet complete and
their is still time for teams to finalise their
affairs but with just 15 days remaining until
the official end of the league season, the clock
is ticking.
Huntcliff Hawks handed Manor Heat a big boost in
the U12 league when they forfeited their league
fixture. Hawks were looking strong contenders
and were previously unbeaten. The Saltburn side
had just won their semi final clash with Manor
Heat B to reach the Final of the U12 County Cup
at Eston Sports Academy which will compensate
for missing out on the league.
Egglescliffe Explosion pose the only real threat
to Manor's title aspirations in the U12 league
and will need to work very hard in the final
days to chase up remaining games.
In
the U14 league, Manor moved 5pts clear of
Nunthorpe Lions, although Lions have one game in
hand. Macmillan Magic, who have dominated
proceedings for much of the season are in third
place and look to have given up the chase as
they are now 9pts behind Manor. The superb form
of Adam Stoddart and Macaulay Novak has been a
significant factor in maintaining the Hartlepool
sides unbeaten run in the U14 league.
Lewis Fisher has been one of the contenders for
MVP this season with some great leadership on
the court coupled with some high scoring
displays which have boosted Manor's hopes of
clinching the U16 league title. The strong
guard's recent 30pt haul over Kings Academy
placed Manor in a good position, entering the
final two weeks. Stokesley Tigers are in second
place, just 4pts behind but with two losses.
Tigers excellent season is deserving of a top
three finish as is UCA Allstarz who are in third
place having only played six games. All three
teams are still in the running for the league
title and in the last two weeks anything can
happen, although it must be said the favourites
are Manor Heat.
The importance of fulfilling fixtures has been
highlighted both in the College and Schools
leagues recently and teams will benefit next
season by organising games as early as possible
to avoid any back logs late in the season. In
Huntcliff's case, the U12 team could have pushed
for a league title had they completed their
schedule.
Middlesbrough College Can Only Wait!
 Middlesbrough
College are the current leaders of the Tees
College League, the only team to have completed
all ten fixtures and with a record of seven wins
and three losses have 24pts, 4pts clear of
Darlington College, although Darlington have two
games in hand. Still in the title race are Queen
Elizabeth who sit in fourth place despite being
unbeaten, having played only six games. QE
Coach; Chris Lyle now faces a frantic 15 days to
organise and fulfil as many remaining fixtures
as possible to climb the table.
Middlesbrough College enjoyed recent wins over
Redcar Rhinos and Macmillan Academy with 103-71
& 74-32 score lines respectively. Matt Rudzik
has been a huge part of the new college side
with the Polish star pulling down the vast
majority of rebounds in every game. Dexter
Munzara is another player who has come of age
this season and has been averaging 17+pts per
game in the latter stages of the season.
Munzara's recent form has earned plaudits from
around the league and the Stockton lad is one of
the contenders for the Most Improved Player
award.
Stockton Slammers sit in fifth place, which is
where they will hope to finish the season,
unless Prior Pumas can leap ahead with pts form
their remaining games.
Queen Elizabeth maintained pressure on the
league leaders with an 84-58 win at Darlington
College. The result all but ended Darlington's
hopes of lifting the first Tees College League
title, although if they win their remaining two
fixtures, they will be in a better position than
Middlesbrough and have to hope QE fail to fulfil
theirs. Kyle Smith of Darlington was the games
leading scorer when the two Darlington titans
met and he had good support from Mark Williams
on 21, but after this the next highest scorer
was 4pts whereas QE had Dan Halford, Richard
Summerbell and Sam Morgan on 25, 21 & 17pts
respectively and the three main scorers proved
too much for a deflated Darlington.
English Martyrs gained their first win of the
season with a 42-41 victory over Macmillan
Academy. The game had been played earlier in the
season and will provide a boost to the
Hartlepool side, who are still in development.
The
Americans Prepare for Revenge!!
Lions v Menwith Hill
Preview
Following the exciting and thrilling climax to
the unlikely win over Team Northumbria two weeks
ago, Lions face another tough test at home to
American side; Menwith Hill Cavaliers this
Sunday at Eston Sports Academy. Spectators are
asked to arrive before 3.30pm to be seated for
the team intros. Tickets are now on sale,
although a special offer of only £2.50 per
person instead of the £8 adult fee can be
secured by calling Game Time on 01642 814221.
The Cavaliers have already tasted defeat at the
hands of Middlesbrough this season with a 12pt
loss in November. The Americans though were
without a few players and self admittedly were
out played by the Lions. This time around, Coach
Charlotte Evans will be looking for a tougher
display from her troops and with the American
servicemen from Menwith Hill aiming to avenge
the earlier defeat a real treat of a game is in
store for the fans.
 Lions
will have a few new faces in the team with
players looking to impress as the club begin
preparations for next season. One new face will
be in the form of the first new signing, who
will be revealed live on radio tonight
on
BBC Radio Tees 95FM at 7.30pm. Coach; James
Thomson and the new player will chat with Ali
Brownlee about the big game and what’s to come
for next season.
Children in the audience will have the
opportunity to enter the half time kit dash to
win a prize and adults will be pleased to know
that the ticket holder of the half court shot
will be shooting for £100 instead of the usual
£50 thanks to Hartlepool company; Ravenwood
Roofing whose owner; Kevin Smith attended a
previous game and was more than impressed with
how professional the Middlesbrough Lions were.
“Middlesbrough have a big support base, a good
team and an excellent facility, hence we are
eager to establish a relationship with the club
which will help promote a healthy lifestyle for
young people.” Added Mr Smith.
For more details call 01642 814221.
Hot Hindmarch
Wins Game For Sonics
 Middlesbrough Lions entertained
a Sonics team with a superstar
guest in Sarah Hindmarch of
Nunthorpe. Hindmarch recently
returned from the USA where she
has been playing basketball for
4 years and it was clear to see
she was a cut above in this
friendly game, although Lions
own star in Donna Cuthbertson
was a contender for the MVP
despite being on the losing
side.
The game started at a quick pace
with Sonics taking an early lead
as Kirsty Crundwell and Sue
Marshall combined well and by
the fourth minute Nicola Grey
hit a shot at the top of the key
to provide an 8-0 lead. Shortly
after, Katie Dodgson would go to
the free throw line after being
fouled by Hindmarch but would
miss both attempts and Lions
would have to wait until the
eighth minute to mark the score
sheet when twins Katie and Ali
Robson hit fast breaks in
succession. Lions defence had
improved dramatically, holding
the visitors to no points for
six minutes before Anna
Sherrington hit a shot from
inside the key with seconds
remaining. At the end of the
first quarter, Sonics held a
slender lead, 04-10.
For full match
report and photos, click
here.
Thanks
to acclaimed photographer, Paul Gaythorpe of PK4
images, there are now a range of photos within the
match report of Lions v Northumbria, including an
excellent capture of the Lions celebrating their
incredible victory. Click
here to view. To
view some of Paul's other photography or purchase
previous Lions game photos, visit his impressive
website by clicking
here.
Training
Changes Over Easter
Training will not be on Good Friday, Easter
Sunday or Bank Holiday Monday. Training this
Wednesday will be from 6-8pm for seniors and
U15's.
Thomson &
Warriner Inspire Remarkable Win Over Northumbria
 In a
game that Northumbria led from the fourth minute
until the last second, Lions, with only two full
time regular seniors in Warriner and Thomson,
shouldn't have won the game. The Northumbria side,
led by the athletic Dijon Fisher and excellent Paul
Campbell, had played well throughout the game, but
the Lions superb final four minutes of the game and
an unfolding series of remarkable events led to a
pre meditated game winning play upon which a number
of crucial factors were significant. The result was
a 1pt victory for Middlesbrough Lions and a game
that the players and fans will remember for a long
time.
The game began well for Lions
who scored first through a nice
shot from James Thomson. David Lisai was quick to respond with
a powerful play inside the
Middlesbrough defence, but once
again Thomson found the net with
a weaving drive to the basket.
In the third minute Warriner
entered the scoring fold with an
athletic drive to give Lions a
4pt cushion, 6-2. The game was
going well for the home side
until the fourth minute when
Gary Coad instigated a 9-0 run.
Middlesbrough could do little
about the sweet spin move in the
low post by Northumbria
powerhouse; Dickon Morrison but
sloppy defence led to Ben
Maliszewski earning a nice And 1
play, converting the bonus free
throw to stretch the visitors
lead to 6-11.
For
full match report and photos click
here.
03/04/09
Lions
End Sonics Unbeaten Run With 18pt Victory!
Middlesbrough
Lions halted the high flying Sonics in a
game full of excitement, action, athleticism
and a few dunks for good measure! Sonics
were in confident mood before the game with
players predicting an easy win and this only
fuelled the desire of Lions to put on a
show. Lions were still without Dean Hanson,
Andrew Marshall, Ben Robinson, Rob Bryson,
Michael Wassell, Daniel Cooper and Neil
Harrison but the recent performances of Acho
Anyigbo and Tyrone Thomas have compensated
somewhat and in one of the last games of the
season the club are left looking back at a
disappointing season having had the majority
of squad injured but looking forward to next
season. For full match report and stats
click
here.
02/04/09
Lions
Edge Closer To D2 Title
Middlesbrough Lions B Team enjoyed good 31pt
win at Richmond Vikings with Michael Peddie
and Matthew brown scoring 27 & 25pts
respectively. Chris Tappenden played a good
part under the basket chipping in with
14pts. For Vikings, John Ford was his sides
top scorer with 15pts, while Mark Williams
hit 14pts. Lions are now 2pts clear of
Ryedale Warriors in TBL Division Two.
Middlesbrough Lions National side will
entertain Team Northumbria this Sunday after
a few weeks off following their National
Founders Cup exit to Kings Lynn. The two
games planned for April include Team
Northumbria this Sunday and Menwith Hill
American Airbase on Sunday 19th. Both games
will be played at the superb Eston Sports
Academy and the Lions are hoping to top the
250 attendance the team enjoyed at home to
Darfield.
The club have enjoyed a fairly successful
season in their first taste of National
basketball, making the Final 16 of the
National Founders Cup and have submitted
their application for entry into the
National League Division Four for next
season.
01/04/09
Lions
U14 Team Training On Tonight
Lions U14 and U12 players will take part in
a session tonight from 6.15-7.15pm at
Middlesbrough College. The sessions will
continue from now on and over the Summer
aiming to improve the team play if the more
established players in these age groups.
01/04/09
Lions
v Northumbria Preview
Lions will face one of their biggest tests
of the season against Team Northumbria, who
are an established National outfit with a
wealth of talent at their disposal.
Excellent links with Northumbria and Durham
Universities have helped produce a very
strong team that finished 6th place in
National League Division Two, two divisions
higher than Lions will be next season.
Middlesbrough coach; James Thomson is not
fazed by the challenge, indicating it is
essential to play tougher teams “We will
learn very little from playing teams who we
can beat easily, this game will provide us
with a stern test and also an indication of
where we are at and where we need to
improve.” added Coach Thomson. The game will
also be an opportunity for local basketball
fans to see some top class basketball with
one of the fastest developing and most
ambitious clubs in the country in
Middlesbrough hosting a fully developed
outfit from a strong basketball area in
Newcastle. Northumbria will be coached by
Matthew Rebbeck and include an even blend of
youth and experience from both their first
and second teams. Coach Rebbeck added “Team
Northumbria play an exciting brand of
Basketball using suffocating defence to
ignite our offense and get easy baskets in
transition.”
This season has seen a number of injuries to
key players at various times throughout the
year though, making it hard for the team to
gel and develop strong team chemistry.
However with their style of play they have
provided fans with entertainment no matter
what the score. Led by Senior Guards Robert
Hammill & Piers Hammond the team has fought
valiantly to finish fourth in BUCS Division
2, recording five more wins across all
competitions than in 2007/08.
Lions, who are already rebuilding their
squad for next season will have a number of
players unavailable due to a Durham League
County Cup Final and their ever increasing
injury list, Ben Robinson out for the two
months with a ankle ligament damage. There
should be a number of new faces though, who
will be looking to impress the club and the
fans.
30/03/09
Richmond v Middlesbrough Lions B
Middlesbrough Lions B team will meet at
Middlesbrough College at 6pm this Wednesday
to set off for Richmond Vikings in Division
Two.
30/03/09
Lions
Back To Their Best!
Middlesbrough Lions 125-72 Easingwold
Vikings
 Middlesbrough
Lions, a team of inconsistent
performances this season put
aside their poor previous form
with a strong message that they
are not finished yet! Lions had
a close to full team for this
emphatic 53pt victory.
The game began well for Lions
from the tip with Chris Leighton
converting his close range shot
for the games first two points.
James Burton was next in line as
he followed up with a steal and
then a strong lay up. The non
stop play from Lions continued
as Easingwold failed to score
and in the second minute Jonny
Copley fouled Burton on the shot
to send the Lions guard to the
line. Burton converted his first
but missed his second to which
Vikings replied with a 3 pointer
and shortly after, a smart
inside move from Matt Taylor
tied the game 5-5. Ben Robinson
hit his first shot for three
months in TBL, coming back from
injury to mark the occasion with
a powerful drive. Robinson's
power seemed to ignite a Lions
run.
To view full article, photos and
stats click
here.
29/03/09
Middlesbrough Lions Salvage Season With
Resounding Wins at TBL CVL
 Middlesbrough
Lions A team salvaged some pride from an
inconsistent season by winning the TBL CVL
yesterday. The team has been plagued by
injuries and absence of players throughout
the year and at the tournament enjoyed the
luxury of 8 players for once. Lions were
just too strong in the Division One
competition with an emphatic 45-14 win over
Hartlepool Heat crowning a great day for the
club. Richmond provided the closest contest
although the 33-41 score line went the
favour of the unbeaten Lions.
In Division Two Richmond Vikings B proved
their value as the North Yorkshire outfit
went unbeaten to be crowned the D2
Champions. Middlesbrough Lions B team and
U15's were also entered into the CVL but
Lions B could only manage second place,
although Lions U15's managed third place
after beating a strong Redcar side into
fourth place.
A full match report will be online soon.
Photos and results are online now within the
Tees CVL section. Click
here to
view photos.
26/03/09
TBL
CVL This Saturday
The Teesside Basketball League central venue
league will run this Saturday from 9-3pm at
Middlesbrough College. Middlesbrough Lions
are entering a team into the Division One
competition and are also entering their B
team and U15 squad into the Division Two
competition. At 3pm a game will be played
between SCM Sonics and Middlesbrough Lions
female sides. The event was due to have a
female CVL but Hartlepool Heat withdrew. The
female aspect is something Game Time and TBL
are keen to see develop and more female
tournaments will be arranged in the future.
26/03/09
Middlesbrough College Go Top Of League!
Middlesbrough College 103-71 Redcar Rhinos
 Middlesbrough
College took with open arms their opportunity to
go top of the Tees College League with a
comfortable win over Redcar Rhinos.
Middlesbrough took pole position for the first
time this season although Darlington and Queen
Elizabeth have games in hand.
The Rhinos marked
the score sheet first as Kemroy Wallace won the
tip and fed Carl Brayfield for the easy lay up.
A good pre game warm up by Coach Budd seeming to
have the desired impact. In the second minute
though things would quickly turn sour for the
visitors. Click
here for full
report, scorers and photos.
26/03/09
Schools Semi Finals To Be Played at Eston?
Game Time is currently looking into the
feasibility of staging the schools U12, U14
& U16 semi finals and finals at Eston Sports
Academy on Saturday/Sunday 16 &17th May.
Keep checking for further details.
26/03/09
Explosion & Heat Firing On All Cylinders!
Egglescliffe have had an inconsistent season
so far, so when the result against Newlands
Ninjas in the U14 league came in, it shocked
everyone. The 81-06 victory is the biggest
score this season and was only one point
behind the 81-06 record held by Nunthorpe
Lions last season. The emphatic win,
Explosion's first of the season places them
fifth in the table and has sent a strong
message around the teams that Egglescliffe
mean business, despite their rocky start.
Nunthorpe Lions are still on top, but now
just one point ahead of Manor Heat and four
points clear of Macmillan Magic.
In the U16 league St Michael's are up to
seventh place after three convincing wins,
but they are still along way behind current
pace setters, Manor Heat who, after beating
Newlands Ninjas 31-25, leap-frogged UCA
Allstarz. Egglescliffe Explosion sit in
third place, only three points adrift of
Manor and one point ahead of Stokesley
Tigers. The situation at the top of the
league is providing an exciting final few
weeks as the season draws to a close with up
to seven teams in contention of winning the
league championship.
25/03/09
Training Cancelled This Sunday
Training at Middlesbrough College is
cancelled this Sunday 10-12 due to the
Middlesbrough run. Training will also be
cancelled the following Sunday due to
Middlesbrough Lions v Team Northumbria at
Eston Sports Academy.
23/03/09
New
Message Forum Now Active
The new message forum is now active so
everyone can register and begin posting
again. The last message forum was receiving
too many robotic members, meaning we had
hundreds of email every day from spam email.
This latest version should be a lot better.
Please remember to keep posts positive and
swear free as there are younger users within
the club and schools leagues.
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