Basketball: Kool Kats eyes focus on the treble

Already Scottish League champions, as befits the team topping the table at the end of the regular fixtures, the Edinburgh side now play the holders Glasgow Rocks in the Scottish Cup final at Edinburgh University a week on Saturday looking to make a clean sweep of the trophies.

In a low-scoring game Sarah O'Brien scored an excellent 17 points and Rowan Bell 11 for Kats.

"We didn't play well in offence but we were outstanding in defence," said coach Graham Gunn. But the Scottish junior champions Edinburgh Kings lost their treble chance when they went down 62-58 to St Mirren in an overtime upset.

Scotland junior cap Niall Mackle converted two free throws with less than two seconds left to take the game into the extra five minutes but Kings, who had been 11 up in the second quarter, were unable to regain control.

"We were very poor - I think the players thought it was all over when we were 11 up but at least it's a wake-up call ahead of the Cup final," said coach Doug Reilly.

St Mirren also won the cadette women's final, beating Kool Kats 65-36 to follow up their league title success.

The senior and cadet men's Play-Offs will take place at the Peak Centre next weekend with the senior champions Edinburgh Kings playing fourth-placed Glasgow University on Friday (8pm) and Falkirk Fury facing St Mirren on Saturday (2pm) with the final on Sunday (4pm).

SCOTTISH basketball star Robert Archibald has welcomed the International Basketball Federation's (FIBA) decision to grant Great Britain men's and women's teams their places in next year's London Olympics.

"I couldn't be happier - the light at the end of the tunnel has finally arrived," said the 30-year-old former NBA centre who now plays for Unicaja Malaga in the Spanish ACB top division. "We're looking to do GB proud once the Games arrive."