IT was a third quarter to forget but Spinners did enough in the end to beat Team Northumbria in National Trophy pool play, writes Allen Gunn.

The Bury-based basketball club squandered a double-digit third quarter lead before a strong fourth quarter helped secure a 76-64 home win.

“It was not a vintage performance,” Spinners head coach Neal Hopkins confessed.

Northumbria erased Spinners’ largest lead of the game – 15 points – by outscoring the hosts 24-10 in the third period.

Jack Preston, who scored 16 points in Northumbria’s win over Leicester Warriors, was limited to five points on just 2-of-7 shooting from the field.

Meanwhile, Spinners had five players finish in double-figures scoring for the second-straight game, led by Steven Gayle’s 14 points.

Lancashire jumped out to an early 10-0 lead, scoring on their opening four possessions whilst Northumbria missed three-straight attempts, as well as making two turnovers.

The visitors recorded their first points of the game nearly two and a half minutes in.

Then their next three possessions resulted in points, which sliced the deficit to four midway through the opening quarter.

Spaniard Aitor Estrada, who finished with 10 points, provided a spark off the bench scoring back-to-back baskets before hitting a three-pointer in the second quarter that restored Spinners’ lead at 23-22.

“I don’t mind being a role player because I’m quite old,” quipped the 36-year-old Estrada. “I’m more than happy to contribute in any way possible.”

Spinners held an 11-point half-time lead, which reached its largest at 52-37 but Northumbria outscored the hosts 18-2 over the second five minutes of the third period.

Down 55-54, Lancashire opened the fourth quarter on a 7-0 run spurred on by a momentous dunk from Mike Bernard.

Coach Hopkins added: “We said before the game that it was a ‘win at all costs’ fixture – I’m pretty happy with the result.”