Basketball: Achara is the only Scot in GB team for Euro campaign

With Dunfermline's Malaga-based centre Robert Archibald opting out and adopted Scot Rob Yanders failing to make coach Chris Finch's final 12, Scotland will have just one representative - Stirling High FP Kieron Achara - in the Great Britain basketball team who open their campaign to reach the 2011 Eurobasket Finals in Szolnok, Hungary tonight.

Achara, now playing for Angelico Biella in the Italian league, was one of the big successes of Team GB's ultimately unsuccessful trip to Eurobasket 2009 in Poland where they lost all three group games, albeit narrowly, and gave World Champions Spain a real fright.

Chicago Bulls forward Luol Deng missed that series through injury however and his return today after sorting out an insurance issue which prevented him playing in any of the warm-up games should boost the side.

Former Scottish Rocks point guard Yanders tried out in Tel Aviv last week after acquiring his UK passport last year but with coach Finch able to use only one naturalised player he has preferred to stay with the reliable though now veteran Nate Reinking.

"It's going to be really difficult and Hungary, who probably don't get the credit they deserve, will be tough, especially at home, but I think we can win the group and get to the finals again," said Finch.

Team GB also face Bosnia, Macedonia and Ukraine in their group.

Meanwhile, Capital coach Ian Gordon, renowned for his prowess in coaching seasoned professionals in his previous career with MIM, steered Scotland's cadette women to the gold medal in the Euro C tournament with a 95-32 mauling of Monaco in the final in Andorra on Saturday.

Polonia players were to the fore with Claire Paxton posting an impressive 'double double', scoring 21 points and grabbing 22 rebounds. Scotland's cadet men however were well beaten 76-30 by Cyprus in their final.