Buchan effort is all in vain

DESPITE a game-high 17 points from US-bound Mairi Buchan, Scotland went down 118-43 to favourites Latvia in their opening basketball game of the European Women's Under-18 Division B Championship in Skopye last night.

However, the GB Under-20 men bounced back from the upset 88-75 defeat to Norway by defeating Ireland 84-66 in their Division B play-off game in Targu Mores, Romania.

Great Britain senior women's new recruit Sarah McKay top-scored with 23 points and added eight rebounds in their training game against Croatia, which the Croats won 81-69 to end a ten-game winning streak by the GB side.