HUDDERSFIELD Heat have become the English Basketball League’s Division III North champions for the first time in their history.
They completed a remarkable league and cup double, as they defeated Leeds Met Carnegie II 98-81.
The victory means promotion to the second division English Basketball League for the club.
Eager for the win, Heat came out strongly from the start, putting together a 16-4 run which had their West Yorkshire neighbours on the back foot.
Veteran centre John Huggett continued his recent great run of scoring form as he scored six early points, on his way to a double-double of 12 points and 10 rebounds for the game.
Forward Mark Rangeley also got away to a fast start, scoring 10 points during this run. Leeds would rally briefly to close the quarter 17 points down, 28-11.
However, the second quarter would see a completely different pattern in play with two 10-0 runs by the visitors, in an incredible scoring burst where they scored 37, to bring the encounter back into life as the Leeds side threatened to spoil the championship party.
Rangeley scored another 10 in the quarter, and guards Nathaniel Akins and Eugene Andrew scored six apiece, but the Heat players became frustrated with the officials’ decisions, and this showed in their defensive discipline.
At the half, the teams were split by just four points, 52-48 in favour of Huddersfield.
After the restart, the Heat began to return to their trademark defensive play, restricting the visitors to just 15 points in the third quarter.
Guards Osama Perez Choubiki and Pedro Ramirez Morales finally found some offensive form too, as they provided the bulk of the scoring for the quarter, which ended 71-63 in favour of the Heat.
With the championship now within reach, the Heat offence went back to form, and a 10-2 run would finally break the resistance of their opponents, the final score reflecting the overall dominance of the home side.
At the end of the game, jubilant Heat players and staff celebrated another milestone achievement, which was echoed by player-coach Eduardo Perez Medina.
“We are extremely pleased to have sealed the title, with three games still to go, which is some achievement in our first year with this new group.
“We thought this group had a lot of potential for sure, but to complete a double in the way we have done is remarkable.
“Obviously now the big challenge for us is to prepare for the divisional play-offs, where we will play the best from the southern conference for the overall Division III title and it is one that we relish.
“There are three more league fixtures to complete, and as a demanding coach, I want us to see the season out, keeping our winning form, and then go into the playoffs full of confidence in search of what would be an unbelievable treble for the season.”
