Troon coach pays credit to Buccaneers after third defeat

Published on Monday 13 October 2008 10:19

UNPREDICTABLE East Lothian Buccaneers once again upset the apple cart in the Scottish Basketball League when they defeated Troon Tornadoes 74-73 in a cliff-hanger in Ayrshire.

It means a third defeat this season for Troon, whose coach Tom Campbell fears they might not qualify for the Top Four for the play-off section of the league.

"This was a much stronger East Lothian team than some I've seen, they have a couple of very good Americans," said Campbell.

Falkirk Fury flattened Glasgow Storm 101-79 at Scotstoun yesterday to maintain their unbeaten record at the top of the table while high-flying St Mirren were without a game.

Champions Edinburgh Kings hammered Grampian Flyers 121-56 to rid themselves of some of their frustration at losing to Fury the previous weekend, with Scotland centre Simon Flockhart back on form with 34 points, Scotland reject Paddy Campbell adding 27 and Scotland point guard Garreth Lodge hitting 22.

"We were terrific in the first quarter (after which they led 28-9] despite not scoring for the first four minutes against their zone," said Kings coach Danny Costello.

"We progressed the ball up the court better than all season," added Costello, whose team have now won two and lost two. Beforehand Kings cadets lost an exciting clash with St Mirren 61-60.

In the first major confrontation of the women's season, unbeaten Edinburgh Kool Kats levelled the scores between the clubs when they defeated champions St Mirren 73-69 at the Paisley side's new court at the Lagoon Centre.

Falkirk Fury held off the Cumbernauld-based St Maurice Lady Gladiators 59-53.