Wobble in title push
Date published: 23 March 2011
BASKETBALL:
OLDHAM Titans under-16s had to settle for Second spot in the North-West Conference after slipping to a 90-71 defeat to Stockport Spartans, who were crowned champions.
In the last game before the English Basketball National League play-offs, hopes were high that Titans would prevail, especially as they enjoyed home advantage at Oasis Academy’s Oldham Ball Hall.
Club secretary Divia Gorsia said: “Although we are obviously disappointed to have come so close to finishing first, we are delighted to have secured second spot in the table.
“It is a brilliant achievement for us and we are proud to be runners-up.”
Titans also went into the clash with the psychological upper-hand, having beaten their opponents just weeks earlier.
But the Oldham outfit did not perform to their usual high standards, and suffered discipline problems on more than one occasion, mainly comprising of run-ins with the referee, which results in a technical foul.
For the first three quarters of the game, Titans looked more like five individuals than a team, which allowed Stockport to take charge of the encounter.
Only in the final quarter did the hosts turn it around, out-scoring their rivals 31-14, but the damage was already done.
Ben Atkinson top-scored for Titans with 21 points, while Chad Timmins contributed 17.
Elliot Buckley mustered 10, Aiden Kelly waded in with eight, Joel Madden bagged seven, James McCabe got five, and Evan Anthony added three.
To their credit, the visitors produced a fine display of percentage basketball, similar to Oldham’s normal approach but with more discipline and focus.
Both teams finished on the same number of points, but the head-to-head ruling, which takes into account results when the sides have played each other, meant Stockport clinched first place.
Attention now turns to the play-offs, with Titans looking to bounce back immediately with victory over Tees Valley Mohawks on Saturday.
