Basketball: winning run ends for Troon Tornadoes

Oct 8 2010 by Mike WIlson, Ayrshire Post (main ed)

TROON Tornadoes senior men’s two game winning streak came to end when they were thumped 77-50 by St Mirren at the Citadel.

Against a much bigger team, Tornadoes took a 9-1 lead on the back of some great defence. Buddies started to pound the ball inside and as Tornadoes’ outside shooting dried up, Saints took a 15-14 first quarter lead.

Starting the second quarter with three unanswered three point baskets, Saints stretched their lead to 39-22 by half time. Johnny Pettit, with nine points, was Tornadoes only offensive threat in this first half.

A better defensive performance lead to Tornadoes outscoring Buddies 16-15 in the third quarter. But in the final session, they had no answer to St Mirren’s big three centres.

Tornadoes are a much changed and smaller side than recent years and unless they shoot much better from the perimeter they are in for some tough times.

This weekend, Tornadoes travel to face Edinburgh Kings who have strengthened the team which won the league last year.

Team: Chris Bombani, Malcolm Morrison, Ian Holland, Ifadade Thomas, Muir Campbell, John Pettit (12 pts), Euan Campbell (capt), Michael Lynn (13 pts), Alexi Zhyzhyn, Fraser Smith, Scott Frew.

Tornadoes junior and cadet teams are now installed as favourites for their national leagues after following up their wins over St Mirren with big victories over Edinburgh Kings.

The juniors won 57-49 to give Kings their first defeat. With Scott Armstrong and Sam Jack getting their eye in, Tornadoes took a 12-8 quarter lead.

In the second quarter, Joshua McGillivray had a good defensive spell and chipped in with a couple of good baskets as Edinburgh cut the deficit to 24-21.

With Sam Jack adding eight points to his tally, Tornadoes stretched their lead to 39-30. In the second half, Tornadoes surged into a 17 point lead, with McIlwraith leading by example in scoring and playing in team mates.

But just as they seemed in control, three key players fouled out one after another. Chris Miller, who had just come on, steadied the nerves with a strong drive and score. Then, with the clock running down, Kings had to foul and Jack and Armstrong punished them from the line as Tornadoes closed it out.

Team: Jordan McIlwraith (16), Scott Armstrong (15), Sam Jack (14), Chris Savage, Conner Mcquade, Harvey Baker-Flanagan, Josh McGillivray, Chris Miller, Ian Burns, Hamish Forsythe.

Tornadoes Cadet Men made it three wins from three with a 64-41 victory over Edinburgh Kings on Saturday.

Tornadoes started well with Allan Gebbie and Gordon Hill shooting well from the perimeter but they were not doing a good job shutting down internationalist Neil Rowan who scored six points in a row to cut the Tornadoes lead to 17-13.

Tornadoes limited Kings to only seven second quarter points and scoring 15 of their own thanks to drives to the basket from Mark Gebbie and more perimeter shooting from Hill. Tornadoes led 32-20 at the half.

A disastrous start to the third period saw Kings score ten points in a row and Tornadoes had to wait seven minutes to score their first basket.

Tornadoes hit back with seven points in succession and thanks to Hamish Forsythe and Gregory McMillan, led 39-33 going into the final period.

Tornadoes saved their best basketball for the fourth quarter, running over the top of the Kings 25-8. Hamish Forsythe and Gregory McMillan scored six and eight points respectively.

Guards Allan and Mark Gebbie controlled the Tornadoes offence, racking up numerous assists as well as playing excellent defence on the Kings guards.

Team: Allan Gebbie (6 pts), Mark Gebbie (13 pts), Greg Austin, Craig Boyce (2 pts), Craig Moffat, Fraser Wright, Gordon Hill (16 pts), Alexander Anderson, Hamish Forsythe (9 pts), Sam Paterson, Gregory McMillan (10 pts), Joshua McGillivray (captain, 8 pts).

Both the Tornadoes juniors and cadets are at home this weekend to Perth Phoenix.