NATIONAL THREE SOUTH, PLAY-OFF, SEMI-FINAL Durham Wildcats............................85 WESTMINSTER WARRIORS.....90

JUNIOR WILLIAMS told his team the last quarter was do-or-die on Saturday.

Warriors were 17 down against their Geordie hosts, and the coach decided he would try something special to keep their season alive.

The word in the huddle was every time Wildcats missed going to the basket, Westminster would go zonal in defence. Every time Durham scored, Warriors would mark man-to-man.

The switching tactic worked better than Williams could ever have dreamed. A panicking Wildcats failed to score for a whole six minutes out of the last 10 as the west Londoners slowly clawed the deficit back.

When they drew level Marvin Addy hit a big three-pointer, only for Durham to copy the feat at the other end. But both Julius Joseph and Steve Vear kept calm to edge Westminster back into a lead they held until the hooter.

Williams said: "We always play well against better teams - and it gets no better than this - 35-13 for the final quarter is an all-time record for Warriors, I believe."

Joseph (25) and Vear (18) top-scored with Addy, Damian Harris, and Williams all sharing nine points each.

Westminster now face old foes Brixton Topcats in the final at Derbyon Saturday where something has to give. Both sides won one apiece during the regular season.

* WESTMINSTER WARRIORS are organising a supporters coach to the National Three play-off final in Derby on Saturday.

Price is £15 per person; coach leaving west London at midday. Contact Steve Alexander on 07904 029 106.