Basketball: Troon Tornadoes move into top four

Oct 29 2010 by Mike WIlson, Ayrshire Post (main ed)

TROON Tornadoes movedinto the top four of thenational league with a 77-54 win over Glasgow Storm.

That keeps them on course for the play-offs at the end of the regular season but their next three games are against fellow challengers.

This weekend, they travel to Stirling to take on a team who, in their inaugural season, are playing to the biggest home crowd in the country.

Versatile Johnny Pettit made three three point baskets and by the end of the first quarter Tornadoes led 24-16 which they stretched to 46-29 at the end of the second.

Chris Bombani again showed his athleticism and was a real thorn in the side of the Storm guards. But not for the first time this season, Tornadoes found their offense dried up in the third quarter as they were outscored 15-9.

Tornadoes can be thankful that Ifadade Thomas was in the mood as he scored all their nine third quarter points on way to his game high total of 29.

Going into the last quarter, Tornadoes held an 11 point lead but this was quickly reduced to seven before they got going again. In the end this was a comfortable win and Storm were held below 60 points for the first time this season.

Team: Malcolm Morrison, Chris Bomani, Ian Holland, Ifadade Thomas (29 pts), Johnny Pettit (12), Euan Campbell (capt), Stuart Ramsey, Michael Lynn (17), Alexi Zhyzhyn, Fraser Smith, Scott Frew.

Tornadoes Cadet Men were unable to maintain their unbeaten start to the season, going down 60-64 to Tayside Musketeers at Arbroath.

Tornadoes started poorly and trailed 17-10 in the opening period when they turned the ball over too frequently and failed to mark the Muskies permimeter players.

Muskies then opened an 11 point lead before the Tornadoes coach called a time-out in an attempt to steady the ship.

Tornadoes responded well. Hamish Forsythe and captain Joshua McGilvray attacked the basket with aggression while Mark Gebbie stepped up his defence on the Muskies star player Nicky Sim. Tornadoes reduced the deficit to 38-36 at the half.

The Muskies scored 11 points on offence without reply giving them a commanding lead once again. An Allan Gebbie three-pointer shot on the buzzer allowed Tornadoes to end the quarter trailing 49-44.

With 30 seconds left, Gebbie cut through traffic to score a lay-up, reducing the Muskies lead to 62-60. This was followed by a technical foul by a Muskies player givingTornadoes two free throws andpossession.

Gordon Hill stepped up to the line to take both free throws but, under pressure, missed both. Tornadoes fouled Muskies captain Nicky Sim with one second remaining and he scored both resulting free-throws allowing them to win.

Team: Allan Gebbie (9 pts), Mark Gebbie (12), Greg Austin, Craig Boyce (3), Craig Moffat, Fraser Wright (2), Gordon Hill (6), Craig McIntyre, Hamish Forsythe (11), Sam Paterson, Adam Jack, Joshua McGilvray (captain, 17).

Tornadoes Juniors kept up the league’s only unbeaten record when they beat Arbroath 85-51 for a fifth straight win.

Jordan McIlwraith hit 10 points in the first quarter as Tornadoes grabbed an 18-10 lead. In the second quarter Tornadoes leaked 21 points, however three, three point baskets from Sam Jack allowed them to increase the lead to 42-31.

The advantage was stretched to 66-37. Into the final quarter and Harvey Baker-Flanagan had a good scoring spell, ably assisted by Scott Armstrong.

Ian Burns came off the bench and contributed some good baskets on the fast break as Troon ran out comfortable winners.

Team: S Armstong (13 pts), S Jack (24), J McGilvary, J McIlwraith (15), C McQuade, H Baker-Flanagan (12), C Millar, I Burns, H Forsythe.