Basketball: Troon Tornadoes gear up for new season

Sep 17 2010 by Mike WIlson, Ayrshire Post (main ed)

THE curtain rises this weekend on another Scottish basketball national league season.

Troon Tornadoes men will start with a much changed line-up from last year as Ross Campbell and Andy Pearson, both regular starting five players, look to be out for some time.

However, Tornadoes have strengthened their back court and it will be interesting to see if they can yet again make up for a lack of big players with pressure from the guards.

Tornadoes juniors will be one of the favourites for honours as the team is based on the cadets who won the cadet national league two years ago.

The Tornado cadet team have some size and most teams should struggle to cope with Joshua McGillivray. The cadet league is always unknown quantity as this is the first level of national league competition.

The junior and senior teams open away to Dunfermline Reign on Saturday while the Cadet men travel to Boroughmuir Blaze on Sunday.

The Cadet Men got their pre-season preparation off to a good start with three matches at the basketballscotland under-16 tournament at Hyndland Academy.

Tornadoes swept aside Glasgow Rocks, a National League Division Two team in their first match by57-27.

Top scorers were Alan Gebbie (12 points), Mark Gebbie (8), Joshua McGilvray (8) and Craig McIntyre (7).

The second game was lost 44-25 against St Mirren who are Tornadoes’ main rivals for the National League.

With the west coast derby match only three weeks away, the coach played more of his younger players for the majority of the match so as not to give away too many tactics and secrets.

The young Tornadoes can take huge confidence, matching the Paisley outfit for large spells and playing good team basketball. Top scorers were Gordon Hill (7 points), Joshua McGilvray (5) and Sam Paterson (4).

The final match saw Tornadoes beat a very athletic and tall Glasgow Rens. They dominated from start to finish, limiting Rens to only 15 points in the match while scoring 36 of their own.

The play of the tournament took place with seven seconds left when captain Joshua McGilvray intercepted a pass at the top of the key and set off on a fast break and threw down a thunderous dunk in traffic. As the buzzer went, the entire gym hall were on their feet.

Team: Alan Gebbie, Mark Gebbie (9 points), Greg Austin, Craig Boyce, Fraser Wright, Gordon Hill, Craig McIntyre, Hamish Forsythe (9 points), Sam Paterson, Alexander Anderson, Joshua McGilvray (5 points, captain).