Basketball: Troon Tornadoes find going tough against Falkirk Fury

Feb 25 2011 by Mike WIlson, Ayrshire Post (main ed)

TROON Tornadoes won one but lost two in a weekend triple header against Falkirk Fury.

The junior team won 98-63 to keep alive their national league title hopes.

In the first quarter, Tornadoes did a terrific defensive job, something which has been missing in recent weeks, and kept the visitors to six points while scoring 18.

Sam Jack and Scott Armstrong hit 18 points between them in the second session but leaked 21 points for a half time lead of 48-27.

The second half saw both teams trade baskets and although Chris Miller had a good spell, Tornadoes’ early lead had to act as a cushion, as they edged 68-44 ahead.

In the final period, Jordan McIlwraith helped himself to 10 points, ably assisted by Harvey Baker-Flanagan and some excellent team defence.

This was ideal preparation as this weekend they host Edinburgh Kings in what is the deciding game of the national league. A key player will be Josh McGillivray who played against Fury after arriving back from the USA on the Saturday morning and now has a week to rest before the crunch game.

Team: S Armstrong (22), J McGillivary (2), J McIlwraith (18), H Baker-Flanagan (8), S Jack (30), C Miller (8), I Burns (3), C McQuade (2), Chris Savage (4), Hamish Forsythe (1).

Tornadoes men lost 78-56 to Fury at the Citadel in their last home game of the season with the lack of a dominant big centre again their undoing.

Tornadoes guards had the better in the first quarter with Morrison and Sampley, in particular, getting to the hoop. Fury’s two 6’11” centres proved too much for Tornadoes 6’5” centres and they eventually wore the home team down but Tornadoes trailed only by 31-30 at half-time.

In a disastrous third quarter, Fury went on a 15-0 run and it looked as if Tornadoes would not score. A fire alarm led to the hall being emptied and game was interrupted for 15 minutes before the all clear was given.

In the remaining minutes of the third period, Tornadoes were outscored 6-4 but the damage had been done and Fury went into the last quarter ahead 52-34.

Tornadoes regained some pride as they scored 22 points but could not cope with the bigger Fury side.

On Saturday, Tornadoes men finish their national league season when they travel to meet a Glasgow University who, on the back of a team of foreign students, have qualified for the play-offs in their first season in the national league.

Team: Chris Bombani, Malcolm Morrison (11 pts), Donald Sampley (14), Ifadade Thomas, Jonny Pettit, Euan Campbell (capt), Stuart Ramsey, Alexi Zhyzhyn, Scott Frew, Fraser Smith.

Tornadoes Cadet Men lost 77-74 to Falkirk Fury despite leading for the majority of the match. They were hindered by the injury to the already jet lagged influential captain Joshua McGillivray started the match in superb fashion.

Forwards Gregory McMillan and Gordon Hill were on excellent form on the offensive end and Tornadoes led 22-15.

They extended their lead to 40-30 during the second period thanks to the continued offensive force of McMillan and Hill, who were ably assisted by stand-in captain Hamish Forsythe and Craig Moffat.

In the third period, guards Mark Gebbie and Craig Moffat were shooting the ball very well but Fury began to get into a better offensive rhythm with 6’5” captain and Scottish internationalist Ben Chok racking up 12 points to reduce the lead to 61-55.

The Troon guards uncharacteristically threw the ball away to their opponents time and time again giving the away side too many easy baskets. With 10 seconds remaining and down by three points, Tornadoes had one last offence to tie the match but a poor shot selection saw the ball thrown at the basket well wide.

Tornadoes were more than a match for Fury for 36 of the 40 minutes. Craig Moffat and Gordon Hill combined to score 47 points along with the hugely impressive Gregory McMillan who had 11 points and played some outstanding defence.

Cadets face Edinburgh Kings this weekend in the last game of the season. It will also be a trial run for the Scottish Cup final.

Team: Allan Gebbie (3 pts), Adam Jack, Greg Austin, Craig Boyce, Craig Moffat (24), Mark Gebbie (7), Gordon Hill (23), Craig McIntyre, Hamish Forsythe (captain, 6), Sam Paterson, Gregory McMillan, Joshua McGillivray.