By Ryan Gillham
Mersey Tigers travelled to Newton Aycliffe to play the Wildcats in front of the Sky Sports cameras on Sunday night and came out on top to give their play-off push a helping hand.
The two bottom sides battled in a high intensity game, clearly showing the importance of the contest to both parties. The Tigers had really done their homework on the Wildcats coming out victors by 11 points as the score line stood 68-79 at the end of the fourth.
In the opening quarter the Wildcats came out on top even though after their shaky start as Myles Hessen took the Tigers to a four point lead, 6-10 with five minutes left in the first. After Head Coach Dave Elderkin called a time out, Paul Elderkin and Chris Pearce brought the game back for the Wildcats as the quarter ended 17-16 to the home side.
Both sides were trading baskets in the second and the game stayed rather close throughout the duration of the quarter. Durham were shooting well from behind the arc extending their lead to six points, 28-22. The Tigers picked up the pace towards the end of the quarter and went into the lead gaining them a point advantage going into the second half, 34-35 to Mersey Tigers.
Paul Elderkin fired the Wildcats into the lead in the third with two big shots from downtown but the points dried up for a short period as both sides struggled to sink a shot. The game was very tight throughout the quarter as the game was tied at 47-47 before Paul Elderkin really made it his quarter giving the Wildcats the lead and then rubbing salt in the wounds with a three pointer. The Tigers showed as no push over’s bringing the score back to 54-53 at the end of the third.
Mersey Tigers took the game to the Wildcats playing some incredible defence causing the Wildcats to make some poor decisions and the shooting from the Tigers in the final quarter gave the home side no chance of competing, extending their lead to 11 points as the game finished 68-79.
Dave Elderkin praised his opponents after their fine display.
“Hats off to the Tigers, their defence in the second half was perfectly played and they hit a high percentage of the shots they were putting up,” he said.
“Our key players once again didn’t perform with the exception of Paul and Mario both putting up 20 points apiece and you are always going to struggle against teams when everybody doesn’t contribute.”
Chris Pearce has been on some good form of late and also had an encouraging performance again in this game but pressure in some games can get to the player. He said:“We played against a very tough defence in the second half who played with a very high intensity. We always fancy our chances in every game but the pressure can get to you in games as such as tonight playing in front of the Sky cameras and playing against a team who are above you in the league.”
Key Players
Durham Wildcats: Mario Flaherty 20 pts, 6 rebounds; Paul Elderkin 20 pts, 6 rebounds; Chris Pearce 9 pts, 5 rebounds.
Mersey Tigers: Myles Hessen 20 pts, 6 rebounds; Matthew Otten 16 pts, 6 rebounds; Sam Crielli 15 pts, 15 rebounds.