County joy for Saddleworth lads

BASKETBALL: SADDLEWORTH School’s senior basketball team has been crowned Greater Manchester’s finest.

Having qualified to represent Oldham as borough tournament winners, the Saddleworth team was pitted against the cream of the other nine regions at the Amaechi Centre in Whalley Range.

Philips School from Bury was the first obstacle, safely negotiated with a 19-0 win.

Other pool victories followed against Lowton (Wigan, 26-8), Altrincham (16-8) and a last-gasp 18-16 comeback success against Wright Robinson Sports College.

A semi-final showdown against the Pool ‘B’ runners-up – Alder School from Tameside – proved a one-sided affair as Saddleworth raced to 23-6.

In the other semi-final Wright Robinson defeated St Anne’s of Stockport to set up a final which was a repeat of the close group match played out earlier in the day.

The final was to prove even more dramatic, though it didn’t look that way in the opening exchanges as Saddleworth opened up an early five-point advantage.

Some sharp shooting from Wright Robinson and sloppy defence from Saddleworth turned the tables, and with just five minutes of the final remaining Wright Robinson led 10-7.

The teams traded baskets and with the scores 15-15 with 11 seconds on the clock, Allistair Lloyd took control of the ball and took one final shot - which missed, signalling overtime.

Saddleworth went on to dominate extra time and took the score to 21-15.