MARK Rangeley hit back-to-back three-pointers to help Lancashire Spinners erase a double-digit second half deficit to defeat Tees Valley Mohawks 86-84 on Saturday, writes Allen Gunn.

“It wasn’t pretty but we ground out another win,” said Rangeley who scored 17 points and grabbed four rebounds.

The Bury-based basketball club trailed 53-42 with less than five minutes remaining in the third quarter before going on a 19-1 run over a span of four minutes, which saw Lancashire climb back into the lead 61-54. It was their first since the score was 22-20.

Though despite having a nine-point advantage early in the fourth, Lancashire had to stifle a late rally to claim a third-straight league win – the second in three games in which it had to first overcome a double-digit deficit.

Tees Valley converted consecutive three-pointers to cut the lead to 76-75 with just over two minutes left before Steven Gayle responded with a three of his own.

The veteran Gayle, who finished with 17 points, then ripped the ball away from Tees Valley (0-10) as they drove the basket on the final possession of the game.

“Steve’s going to be frustrated he didn’t play in the spurt where we brought the game the game back,” Lancashire coach Neal Hopkins said. “But he was big down the stretch and he brought his veteran hat and carried us over the line.”

Gayle entered Saturday shooting a team low 33.6 per cent from the field but was 5-of-12 in the game. He made three of his seven attempts from three-point range.

Connor Murtagh scored 18 of his 22 points in the second half to lead the Spinners offensively. He also had 10 rebounds playing all but six minutes of the game.

“I actually thought he was quiet,” admitted Hopkins. “He hit a couple of big shots and he scored in different ways but he’s the kind of guy that could go for 40 points and 20 rebounds.”

Meanwhile, It was Tees Valley’s fifth game of the season and second league loss decided by five points or less. They also shot a better percentage from the field than Spinners in the defeat.

“It’s very frustrating – the start [to our season] could have been so different,” said Mohawks head coach Steve Butler. “I’m proud of the guys because they worked their butts off and never gave up.”

Ramonn Nelson had 24 points and Robert Donaldson finished with 21 and five rebounds in the loss.

Lancashire travels to Worthing Thunder on Saturday before facing Manchester Magic at the Amaechi Basketball Centre on Sunday in the National Cup quarter-finals. The Spinners then host Magic on November 21 at Castle Leisure Centre.