Basketball: Kings still Reign supreme as Dunfermline are beaten

EDINBURGH Kings continue to dominate the Scottish senior men's league, scoring a 94-45 home win over a spirited Dunfermline Reign who hit some amazing three-pointers in the opening quarter and succeeded in stopping the champions hitting the "ton".

Reign only lost the second quarter by three to make it 54-36 to Kings at half-time but thereafter their resistance crumbled, managing only two points in the final ten minutes.

"We tightened up our defence considerably in the second half," said coach Danny Costello.

Kings' teenage point guard Lee Reilly had another excellent game scoring 19 points and giving a remarkable nine assists.

Michael Kirkpatrick was unavailable but the return of skipper Paddy Campbell ensured there was no weakness in the Kings' rear-court and centre Simon Flockhart added another 20 points, though for once he was overshadowed in the rebounding department by Lithuanian Audrius Ciapas with 11.

East Lothian Peregrines meanwhile were hit by a mini-blitz in their home game against Glasgow University at Musselburgh with Simon Archer, a former BBL player from Worcester now studying in Glasgow, hitting 41 points.

The biggest upset of the weekend was Stirling Knights' 78-62 win over Troon Tornadoes, which sets the new side up as genuine challengers for a top four place. Club boss Derek Hargreaves was delighted with the win and also with his daughter Nicola's performance for Edinburgh Kool Kats against Polonia Phoenix. Helped by ten three-pointers, including seven from eight from Hargreaves, Kats completely turned the tables on their local rivals to win 86-54.

With Kings juniors beating Reign 79-21 and the cadets winning the local derby with Boroughmuir Blaze 66-47, it was a good weekend for the City club.

Polonia did not let their Friday night defeat prevent their coming back to beat Grampian Flyers 98-30 at Currie High School, with the juniors also winning 54-42 against Tayside Musketeers and the cadettes overwhelming Highland Bears 112-22.