Basketball: Lee Reilly leaves it late to pip Students on final buzzer

A MAGNIFICENT 44 points from Lee Reilly saved Edinburgh Kings when they were staring defeat in the face away to Glasgow University in the Scottish Basketball League.

The students were leading by a point with eight seconds left when Reilly took possession and scored right on the final buzzer for a 75-74 win which keeps the champions on course to retain their title.

Reilly played the full 40 minutes as did Simon Flockhart, who had 13 points and 14 rebounds but Kings had come under pressure after Latvian star Ed Rekis pulled a hamstring in the second quarter when they were only six points ahead.

Rekis could be out for at least two weeks as the champions look to close in on another title.

Meanwhile, a real fighting performance from Polonia Phoenix has opened the Scottish Women’s title race right up.

Polonia beat city rivals Edinburgh Kool Kats 59-47 at Wester Hailes yesterday, leading from the start, with veteran centre Les Marshall top-scoring with 17 points and Ali Mitchell adding 15, while Sarah O’Brien replied with 16 for Kats

“We were always in control – it was a great team effort,” said home captain Julie Ritchie, but Kats coach Ben Gunn was far from happy with his side, saying: “There was a lack of defensive intensity from the start.”

With Rocks beating Falkirk Fury, it now leaves Rocks and Kats on two defeats and Polonia on three and all to play for as Kats are at home to the Rocks at Portobello on Saturday and away to Polonia in their final game.