Holmes Chapel: 73

Stockport: 69

Holmes Chapel Hornets played magnificent basketball and produced their first ever win against Stockport Atlas, the team much fancied to win the Division1 title this year.

Baskets were traded early on with Tom Lee and Andy Rushton both scoring long range shots. Then the Hornets produced some incredible offence with John Whelan and Guy Johnson landing well worked jump shots. Guy dominated the boards at both ends and soon Tom and John were sinking baskets again to give the Hornets a deserved 10 point lead. Stockport pegged this back with some well worked offence drills and Sam Bithell and Andy Sienkiewicz were forced to work hard for their late baskets to take the Hornets in 5 points up as Q1 finished.

Andy and John quickly started Q2 with jump shots off their own rebounds but Stockport responded with high quality outside shooting. Neil Hawkins kept the Hornets  patient in their offence and tried to work for good shooting opportunities and Tom got another 3 pointer off a fine passing movement. Danny Wareham scored off a drive and was then provider for Andy Sienkiewiz to score close in as Hornets opened an 8 point lead. But Stockport piled on the pressure now and forced a couple of turnovers to end the half with the game finely balanced 37-34 to the Hornets.

Tush put in a magnificent shift early in the 2nd Half scoring all the Hornet points in the first 5 minutes but Stockport had found their shooting range and the lead swapped hands 8 times as neither sides gave an inch in this nail biter. 2 late baskets from Danny gave the Hornets a slender lead in a quarter that was a draw - Hornets still up by 3 points.

Free throws dominated Q4 and the Hornets were 100% from the line early on with both Sam and Tush punishing Stockport for their fouls. But the Stockport shooting machine kept on coming and despite a jump shot from Zander Fyfe Stockport took the lead with 5 minutes still to play. Zander showed nerves of steel, on his debut, to pick up a loose ball and pop it in to regain the lead only to see Stockport work a low post move to level with only 3 minutes remaining. A scrappy Hornet offence worked the ball to Tom who stayed calm to pop a 3 pointer. Both defences amazingly upped their intensity but Atlas cut the lead to one point. Turnovers were made at both ends and Hornets managed to call a Time Out with 14 seconds remaining and Hornets one point ahead. Atlas fouled Sam Bithell as they chased the game and Sam remained cool to shoot two from the free throw line. Sam was a visitor again to the line and scored the first basket to give the Hornets a 4 point lead with only 2 seconds remaining. An amazing victory that should see the bookmakers quickly re-writting the odds for this season.

Top Scorer - Tush  18 Points
Played Out of their skin - Andy Sienkiewicz - Soft shooting and Hard rebounding - best game yet in a Hornets shirt
Best Basket - With the game drawn Tom pops in a 3 pointer - Not the best crafted basket of the night but in terms of the pressure relief it was immense.
Must Improve - Losing players on a screen.