LANCASHIRE SCHOOLS BASKETBALL 2006 FINALS PAGES If you were at one of the finals and wish to send in a match report send it via email to: [email protected]

Pictures, Match reports etc will appear here soon.

Under 16 Final Pictures

Under 16 Girls Final-Pictures

Under 14 Girls Final-Pictures

Under 16 Girls final Report
Worden 32, Bacup 28
26th April 2006

Both under 16�s girls� teams were ready to show off their skills at the final held at Darwen Vale High School.

Whilst Bacup were warming up at the top of the court, Worden walked in looking very motivated for their game. Team coaches Pottsie and Robbo began warming them up straight away as both teams knew the game winners would be the ones who made the least mistakes on the day, because both teams were pretty evenly matched.

Worden�s Parr and Bacup's Postlethwaite went up for the toss, with Bacup winning it Worden quickly turned on the defence, determined to score an early basket. With bacup driving the basket and missing, Worden�s Sheli Houghton, grabbed the ball and played it wide to Lisa Topping who drove towards the basket and scored the first basket of the game.

Bacup came straight back at Worden, who again managed to get the ball and score from Bacups missed shot.

Postlethwaite then made up ground on the court passing the ball to make an easy angled shot for her team mate to score.

The game continued back and forth with Worden taking the lead and then Bacup levelling. All team managers and parents where anxiously leaning off their seats.

In the final quarter baskets came from Captain Steph Parr, Steph Houghton, Becky Topping and Holly Robinson. And Bacup�s Postlethwaite kept on bagging the shots she took, which kept putting pressure on the Worden team. But Worden�s back man, Amanda Blizzard kept working hard, reducing the number of shots every time they had a break.

Worden�s Lisa Topping Bagged a lay-up moments before the final whistle, making the final score 32-28 to Worden.

Both teams then shook hands and waited for the presentation. First, Postlethwaite of Bacup lead her team to collect runners up and then Worden�s Parr lifted the champions cup, which represented a lot of hard work and commitment put in by team managers and players.

The referee, Steve Lee, then had to make a presentation to whom he had recognised as the MVP (most valuable player). This he gave to number 3 of Worden, Lisa Topping.

The Final was a very exciting match, enjoyed by all. Worden would like to thank Bacup for making them fight so hard for the win, and a big thanks to Miss Potts and Miss Robinson (otherwise known as Ginge) for all their faith and commitment they have shown towards the team, we just couldn�t have made it without them!

Written By Lisa Topping & Sheli Houghton Of Worden Sports College

Under 14 Girls Final Report
Montgomery 39, Bacup 32
15th May 2006 at Darwen Vale High School

From looking at the results in the pool games and semi-finals Bacup appeared to be slight favourites for the final having had better results than Montgomery.

Both teams started slowly but it was Montgomery that held the early advantage to lead 9-4 at the first break. The second quarter was tight but at the end of the half Montgomery had extended their lead from 5 to 7 points.

With two so well matched teams; Bacup having the better players but Montgomery playing the better basketball, whichever team took their chances was going to win. With a massive effort in the third quarter, the Bacup girls pulled the score back to within one basket, 27-29, but with so many missed shots and even more missed free throws (scoring only 6 from 27 attempts) the team failed to take the lead and control of the game.

Montgomery's free throw shooting was also keeping the game close as they only managed 5 from 22, but the tall Lauren D kept the points coming finishing second highest scorer on the day with 12.

Montgomery withstood the pressure and with Bacup having 3 of their 5 starters (Sophie Horrocks, Nansi Pallavus and Ellie Carrick) on 4 fouls and one fouled out (Simone Kelly) just couldn�t maintain the pressure. Most of these fouls were committed trying to control the oppositions very quick ball handler (Jade T), who was later awarded the MVP for her overall contribution to the game (top scorer with 13 points, excellent ball handling in offence, good defence).

The missed chances took their toll and Montgomery eventually finished the game with a 7 point advantage to become the first ever Lancashire Schools Basketball under 14 Girls Champions.

The Bacup team
Katherine Parry, Sophie Horrocks, Nansi Pallavus, Ellie Carrick, Katie Bickford, Helen Marston, Sara Davison, Alix McDermott and Simone Kelly
The Montgomery team
Jade T, Charlotte H, Carly W, Lucy H, Emma S, Francesca N, Lauren D, June K, Fiona N, Suchita W, Lenny B