GRENEWAY School s hopes of winning the North Herts Schools Basketball under-13 championship final were ended by Hitchin Boys School. In a tense final at Royston Leisure Centre last Thursday, a disappointing fourth quarter and some poor free-throw shootin

GRENEWAY School's hopes of winning the North Herts Schools' Basketball under-13 championship final were ended by Hitchin Boys School.

In a tense final at Royston Leisure Centre last Thursday, a disappointing fourth quarter and some poor free-throw shooting from Greneway saw the Hitchin school run out 54-48 winners.

The first quarter saw nerves quickly overcome as both teams tried to dominate. The match was end-to-end as a result and gave the large, appreciative audience an exciting, tense spectacle.

Hitchin found themselves in team foul trouble, unfortunately Greneway were unable to punish - a trend which was to prove crucial. This left Hitchin 15-10 up at the first break.

The second period saw Greneway exert some real pressure and again Hitchin were in foul trouble as they found the all court Greneway game hard to contain.

Once more the free throw line proved a barrier to Greneway but they reach the interval 23-22.

The third period was even closer as Greneway tried valiantly to extend their advantage and went to line four times for a return of only two points.

This pattern of desperate defence by Hitchin leading to free throws was becoming the Greneway Achilles heel as the period ended 35-35.

The game was end-to-end and tired, passionate, committed and skilful players were digging deep to find extra reserves of energy, nerve and desire.

Both teams were playing some breathtaking basketball and once again Greneway went to the line as Hitchin were in team foul trouble.

Injuries to key Greneway players hurt their cause immensely and they were to rue their many missed opportunities as Hitchin held on to record their first victory in this competition and break the hearts of the totally committed Greneway players.

Neil Addison led the Greneway scoring with eight points, while Jack Beck, Adam Monti, Daniel Jinkerson and Ayrron Armstrong scored seven apiece.