Basketball: Kool Kats clinch title early with help from city rivals

Edinburgh KOOL KATS have regained the Scottish Women's Basketball League title a week sooner than expected and before they play St Mirren in their final regular fixture at Portobello on Saturday, thanks to a little help from their close city rivals Polonia Phoenix.

Kats' weekend flourish of three wins in four days helped clinch matters, though coach Graham Gunn had his side primed for a decider against the Saints. But in the end Polonia, beaten by Kats last Thursday night, regrouped to score a fine 71-64 away victory yesterday over the champions Glasgow Rocks to make sure that the title came back early to the Capital.

Kats had tamed Falkirk Fury 58-33 away on Saturday, led by 24 points from Rowan Bell and ten from Charlotte King, and were much too strong for lowly Grampian Flyers, winning 111-37 at Portobello yesterday.

Cathy Mitchell (15), Julie Ritchie (14), Ali Mitchell (13), Les Jackson (11) and Emilia Ross (10), supplied the points for Phoenix at Cumbernauld.

Meanwhile, Edinburgh Kings walloped Saints 74-43 at the Lagoon Centre in Paisley and now need only one win from their two remaining back-to-back fixtures against Saints again and East Lothian Peregrines at Portobello this weekend to wrap up the flag for the fifth year in a row.

Kings built up an astonishing 45-16 half-time lead, which they increased to 66-29 after the third before taking their feet off the gas to lose the last 14-8.

Kings juniors claimed the honour of being the first of the City club's teams to pass the post in the title races by beating Troon Tornadoes 71-60 in a tight decider at Marr College.