Basketball: Scots finish second in Home Internationals

Scotland scored two convincing victories over hosts Northern Ireland in their final games to clinch second place in the Four Nations basketball Championships at the University of Ulster Jordanstown Campus.

The Scottish men confounded expectation by outpowering the Ulstermen in the second half for a 93-75 win, after leading 45-44 at half-time, while the Scottish women were never in danger after an opening 31-8 quarter on their way to an 83-56 win.

Northern Ireland had come so close to defeating England men the previous day, leading until the final two minutes, that they were firm favourites to beat the Scots who had lost 88-75 to England in their opener.

But coach Iain Maclean and his men thought otherwise and, with Edinburgh's Tom Hutchinson doing a superb job in defending American centre De La Cruz and team-mate Liam McCabe also defending well, the Scots frustrated the Irish before launching increasingly confident raids of their own.

Captain Chris Cleary scored an impressive 25, showing great power on the boards, while Aistis Keliauskas added 21, Fraser Glass 17 and Hutchinson 13. Edinburgh Kool Kat Rowan Bell top-scored with 19 for coach Graham Gunn's women's side, with Bell's Edinburgh University team-mates Sarah O'Brien and Dana Poder O'Born adding 14 each.

England, as expected, cruised over Wales to retain both titles.

Men: England 99, Wales 56; Scotland 93, N Ireland 75. Women: England 103, Wales 39; Scotland 83, N Ireland 56.