Leopards impress with late winning basket

THE Essex & Herts Leopards three Royston youngsters impressed once again as the under-14s beat Brentwood Fire 69-67. Nathan Crossman, Joe Graves, and Neil Addison, who all attend ­Meridian School, helped their team to victory, with captain Crossman maki

THE Essex & Herts Leopards' three Royston youngsters impressed once again as the under-14s beat Brentwood Fire 69-67.

Nathan Crossman, Joe Graves, and Neil Addison, who all attend ­Meridian School, helped their team to victory, with captain Crossman making three assists, two steals, six offensive rebounds, eight defensive rebounds and one block.

Both teams went into the match unbeaten in a top-of-the-table clash, but it was the visitors that came out on top with a winning basket three seconds from time.

The game started brightly for Brentwood and they quickly built up an early lead.

The Leopards hit back in the third period, when they began to make scoring difficult for the hosts, while at the other end they put their chances away with ease.

And as a result they ended the quarter in front for the first time, with a 13-point lead.

However, the home side hit back once more and with a minute remaining had regained the lead by just one point.

But the young Leopards refused to fold and turned the ball over to tie the game at 67-67.

And after denying one last Brentwood attack, the visitors turned the ball over once more and with a fast break forward grabbed the winning basket.