Men's Basketball fall to Championship winners

(13 March 2010)

Inch for inch, man for man, and pound for pound, Durham Men’s Basketball 1s put in a tireless performance in the BUCS Men’s Championship Knockouts quarter final as they sought to match the speed and agility of Leeds Met, but ultimately succumbed to the narrowest of defeats as they were edged out 89-79 in a pulsating encounter at the English Institute of Sport in Sheffield.

In a match that saw Durham attempt to neutralise Leeds Met’s attacking versatility with a defensive solidity and composure, it was the Yorkshire side who stormed into an early lead, running in 20-16 leaders at the end of the first quarter.

It was in the second quarter that the Palatinates played some of the best basketball of their season, scintillatingly slicing open their opponents on a number of occasions to run in with a 43-39 half-time lead.

As the game ebbed and flowed, swinging one moment in Durham’s favour and the next in favour of Leeds, the Palatinates held firm with several three-pointers ensuring the game was tied at 63-63 going into the final quarter.

With ten minutes remaining and Durham committing men forward, Leeds Met made sure to exploit their opponents’ defensive vulnerability on the counter-attack, scoring two-point baskets unopposed and unattended as they built up an ultimately insurmountable 89-79 winning margin.

Ian Hewitt, Durham Men’s Basketball 1s captain, said: “We can be really proud of such a performance against what should be considered the tournament favourites. We were always the underdogs and to have kept things level for so long was a real testament to our hard work and determination.

“There were only a couple of things that swung the tie in Leeds Met’s favour, and up until the last seven minutes or so I thought that we were in with a fighting chance of getting a result.

“We always knew that we would be put under pressure in the way that we were, but the way we performed suggests that we can come back in later years and do even better.  Our next priority is to finish fifth in the competition, and we’ll do everything we can to ensure that happens.”