Kentish Express Ashford & District
BASKETBALL: LIONS TOP THE STANDINGS THANKS TO THEIR MOST VALUABLE PLAYER
Last-gasp heroics from sharpshooting Ollie Heath gave The North School Lions a dramatic win against Tonbridge School which sent them top of the South Conference in the under-19s Kent League.
The North made a dream start as captain Diogo Simoes scored six points and assisted on seven from Appointed Adigun and Iain Bremer to give his team a 13-6 lead.
But the second quarter saw a rejuvenated Tonbridge find a foothold in the game and reduce the North’s advantage to 17-15 at half-time.
The third quarter saw the visitors continue their momentum as they tied the game at 20-20.
However, the Lions responded with outstanding team offence as five different players scored in a 9-3 run that put them six points ahead with one quarter to play.
A tension-filled final quarter saw Heath give the Lions a 35-30 lead with a mid-range jump shot, only for Tonbridge to respond with a 7-0 run which put them ahead for the first time with under a minute to play as they led 37-35. Following a Lions time-out, Simoes found an open Heath in the left corner, and he buried a three-point shot to put the home team up with 25 seconds left.
The Lions played suffocating defence to secure one final stop which forced Tonbridge to foul. Heath made a free throw to put the Lions up 39-37 and they held out for the victory. Heath was named as the game’s Most Valuable Player after a superb two-way performance which saw him finish with nine points, including the game-winner. Simoes led the Lions in scoring with 15 points to go along with six assists and six rebounds.
The Lions will now face Folkestone Academy in a critical home and away series. Heath said: “It was a great team win and scoring the game winner felt incredible. “We’re happy to be undefeated at the top of the Conference but we know there’s a huge series against Folkestone coming up, so we’re focused on getting better every day.”