Hoops 4 Health basketball bonanza sees Gosforth Central claim year six title
GOSFORTH Central Middle School was crowned the year six Hoops 4 Health title in most dramatic style, writes SUSAN HUNTER.
With the year five programme coming to an end for another season, it was time for those in the year above to take to the court and play for the championship.
A whopping 40 teams from across south east Northumberland and the five councils in Tyne and Wear ascended onto Sport Central to battle it out to become the year six champion.
The teams were split across six pools and spent the morning and early afternoon playing everybody in their pool.
After the pool stage the top two teams then progressed through to quarter-finals.
Most pools had clear winners with the exception of one court with three teams tying for the top position.
Making it through to the quarterfinals were three schools from Newcastle, two schools from Sunderland, two schools from Gateshead and one school from North Tyneside.
Last year’s winners Preston Grange failed to even make this stage of the tournament so a new school would be crowned champion.
All games were tight with only one basket separating the teams at the end of regulation time and one game going into a shootout.
The three middle schools from Gosforth including Central, East and Junior High progressed to the semi final and were joined by Sunderland school Seaburn Dene.
Again scores remained tight in the two games with only one basket separating the teams.
But Gosforth Central from Newcastle and Seaburn Dene from Sunderland were the last two teams standing with both teams hungry to take the title.
Gosforth Central took the lead and as the clock counted down looked as though they were going to grab the win.
But Seaburn Dene spoiled the party when they grabbed the equaliser near the end of the game.
The final whistle went with the scores tied at 2-2.
Each school selected one boy and one girl to go into a shootout.
After each school took their two shots they were still deadlocked, ramping up the tension.
A further two shots each were taken and again the schools could not be separated.
Going into the third round of the dramatic shootout, which was a golden basket opportunity, Seaburn Dene narrowly missed and Gosforth Central Middle School netted their shot crowning them the new champions.
For more information regarding basketball opportunities, contact Taylor Rendles at T.Rendles@ eaglescommunityfoundation.com