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Team Northumbria 92

Tees Valley Mohawks 90

Benfield Centre for Sporting Excellence

Thriller ends in agonising defeat in dying seconds

Oct 10 2007 by Peter Clarke, with the Evening Gazette

TEES Valley Mohawks narrowly lost the first pool game of their Patrons Cup campaign.

Team Northumbria were 92-90 winners in a hard fought battle that went down to the final 30 seconds at the Benfield Sport Centre of Excellence.

The game was at times too close to call.

The Northumbrians had big Sam Attah - who has been linked with several top British clubs - leading the line with Pearce and Steuter and they took the first quarter 22-18.

The second quarter was all Mohawks with David Hanson and American Pierre Sully leaving their mark on the game.

The Teessiders plundered the opposition defence, out-scoring the home side nearly two to one and leading at half time 45-37.

Mohawks held on to their lead in the third quarter but struggled with stamina levels as the home side dominated.

Team Northumbria were Division Two play-off champions last season and have an established side.

The Tees Valley outfit held on into the final minutes with a slender seven point lead and looked like they would win comfortably as they were awarded a series of shots from the bonus line.

The game turned in seconds when the Mohawks were unable to convert successfully and then conceded four three-point baskets in the closing seconds.

Head coach Creon Raftopoulos said: “We are still adjusting to this level of game and the players don’t have the time on the ball as they did in the Conference.

“We are two players short for this league - a guard and a strong forward.”

Mohawks play their second pool game in the Patrons Cup on Saturday at home to Black Country.

Other pool results: Birmingham-Aston Athletics 53 University Birmingham 69, Black Country 90 NEWI Nets 76.