Basketball: Kings take step closer to crown

Edinburgh KINGS took a step nearer retaining their Scottish National Basketball League title when they defeated Boroughmuir Blaze 73-62 in an error-strewn game at Portobello.

They need only beat Glasgow Rocks at Portobello on Saturday to clinch the crown for the sixth year in a row.

But sister team Edinburgh Kool Kats now need a huge favour, not just from local rivals Polonia Phoenix but also from Falkirk Fury, if they are to hang on to their title after slipping up 59-38 at home to Glasgow Rocks at Portobello.

Kats need the Rocks to lose both their remaining games, to Polonia Phoenix and Falkirk Fury, the latter a most unlikely scenario on this season’s form, and they then would need to beat Polonia in their last game at Wester Hailes on Sunday.

But Phoenix are still very much in the hunt and if they beat Glasgow Rocks in their outstanding game this week – and the Rocks are furious that they have been asked to play a virtual title-decider on a midweek evening at a venue new to both teams – the Crags has been proposed for Thursday – then they would play Kats at WHEC with victory giving them the title.

“It’s never over till it’s over,” said Kats’ Scottish international guard Lauren Walker bravely. “We’ll be out to poop the party at least.”

Polonia had to work hard for their 56-50 away win over St Mirren, only edging away in the dying minutes.

At Portobello, a former Kings junior, Davy Rowan, outscored all the home side with 21 points for Blaze who, however, undid much of their effort through unforced errors – they had 42 turnovers in all.

Kings also had the better of the junior and cadet games against Blaze, the cadets being presented with the Scottish League trophy after their 57-38 win.