Heat Youngsters Push Leaders

Hartlepool HEAT's Division 3 team shrugged off their underdog status and pushed undefeated and league leaders East Durham right to the final buzzer before narrowly losing out in what turned out to be the closest game in the division so far at Manor College of Technology.

The visitors began strongly; first sinking two early free throws and charging to an 8-0 lead.  The HEAT began to find their feet in the match and battled back with Jimi Aramide scoring seven personal to end the quarter just 5-points behind with the score at 14-9.

A decision by East Durham to go man-to-man defence proved costly in the second quarter as HEATs young guards ran tirelessly scoring eight unanswered points in the first three minutes putting the HEAT up 17-14.

Despite East Durham's Mason's attempts to steer his team back into the lead with four baskets HEAT's defence performed well shutting down East Durham's big men on the inside and Dylan Fisher did the business at the other end throughout the quarter scoring a superb 13 personal points. Which combined with two baskets in the final minute of the quarter from Micah Innes helped HEAT to a great 32-23 lead at the half.

The away team reverted back to their zone defence in the third quarter, which proved more effective. HEAT were still able to extend their lead in the early part of the quarter through baskets from Fisher and Innes but then the visitors went on a 7-0 run which narrowed HEAT's lead to just 4 points with three minutes remaining. Disappointingly the HEAT were unable to score any of their four free-throws in the following two minutes and despite East Durham also missing from the free-throw line twice they scored a further 8 points in the last two minutes taking the lead 40-38 into the fourth quarter.

HEAT began the fourth quarter with another two missed free-throws but did not lose heart as they traded baskets with the opponents in a tense quarter where little could separate the teams. Mason for East Durham again led the scoring with six of his team's 12 points in the quarter. HEAT rallied with three baskets, one each from Fisher and captain Adam Musgrave and another from Paul Atkinson giving HEAT a 52-50 lead going into the final minute.  HEAT gave up a shooting foul and East Durham's O'Calloghan converted one of two, which would be crucial in the final score.  Moments later the visitors took the lead and their experience won through, as they were able to hold off the young HEAT team from causing what would have been a major upset for East Durham’s title bid and escaping with a narrow victory winning 53-52.

Despite the disappointing result the ever-improving young HEAT team can take a lot of positives away from this game.  They will look to notch their first win of the season when they travel to the Houghtonians on the 8th of December.

Scorers: Dylan Fisher 21, Adam Musgrave 8, Jimi Aramide 7, Micah Innes 6