YOUNG talent pushed experienced rivals all the way as Grimsby Snaprats and Lincolnshire Lightning suffered defeats in the Humber Development Basketball League South.
Grimsby Gators claimed the derby bragging rights after a 64-49 victory over Snaprats at Oasis Academy Wintringham.
Lincolnshire Lightning, the under-16 arm of Grimsby Snaprats Community Basketball Club, lost 50-47 to Scunthorpe Steelers at Havelock Academy.
The young Lightning lads enjoyed a fantastic scrap against an older Scunthorpe team.
They were 21-4 down by the end of the first quarter, but rallied to force a close finish.
Lightning scored 14 points without reply to reduce the deficit to 27-22 at half-time.
A low-scoring third quarter meant it was all to play for in the final period.
And a superb 16-point run by Lightning saw them strike back to level the score with two minutes remaining.
But Scunthorpe yielded enough expertise to squeeze over the line by a three-point margin.
Snaprats, an under-19 team, ran out of gas against Gators.
The visitors led by three points after the first quarter. By the end of the third quarter, the margin was down to just one point.
But Gators turned the heat up in the final quarter and pulled away for a commanding win.
Lightning's scheduled match against P&O Pirates was postponed and will now take place in the new year.
For information on joining Snaprats, contact the club's head coach, Robin Russell, at r.russell10@hotmail.com
