HEAT Too HOT for Houghton

Hartlepool HEAT Men's Division 3 team continued their great run in form with an excellent win against an experienced mid table side Houghtonians. HEAT have now won three of their last four games with their only loss so far coming from run away league leaders Sonics and that was only by a single point. Cameron Battman opened the scoring for HEAT and was quickly followed by Dylan Fisher. Houghton would not respond till the fourth minute and by then HEAT were cruising 12-4.

Fisher continued his assault on the Houghton zone defence and when Micah Innes scored a fast break attempt at the end of the first HEAT lead 16-8. The fast breaking of HEAT was proving too much for Houghton as the young Hartlepool side ran riot with Fisher and Innes unstoppable on the break and combining for 13 of HEAT's 15-points this quarter. Half time 31-20.

Houghton were much improved in the second half and visiting captain Paul Carr rallied his troops well as they hit back and edged the third 17-20 and cutting HEAT's lead to 8-points going into the fourth and final quarter.

Houghton continued their great run and with HEAT on the back foot opened with six unanswered points to slice the lead to only 2-points at 48-46. Some great defence from Jimi Aramide and rebounding from Battman gave HEAT the spark they needed as they produced a 9-4 run to marginally pull away by 7-points.

Houghton hit back with a long unexpected 3-pointer from N.Weatherell, however Fisher responded with a 3-pointer of his own to give HEAT some breathing space. With less than 20 seconds left HEAT held a 4-point lead and the game seemed over, yet a rush of blood seen HEAT foul Weatherell while attempting a 3-pointer and three free shots were awarded with 9 seconds on the clock. Weatherell stepped up and calmly under pressure made all three shots to make it 60-59. HEAT called a time out.

Houghton went man -man to deny the inbound pass as HEAT screened away. A great pass from Battman found an excellent back door cut from Paul Robson as he laid the ball into the net giving HEAT a 3-point lead as the seconds ticked away.

HEAT have three league games remaining and a League Cup semi final with League Leaders Sonics yet which could see the team reach the cup final in their first ever season.

Scorers: Dylan Fisher 22, Micah Innes 19, Paul Robson 8