Basketball: Kats bounce back from Cup defeat to challenge for title

What a difference a week made for Edinburgh Kool Kats, who had surrendered the Scottish Women’s Basketball Cup rather tamely, beaten 72-60 by Glasgow Rocks in the final at the Pleasance last weekend.
By SANDY SUTHERLAND
Published 13th Feb 2012, 11:58 BST

The contrast could scarcely have been greater yesterday as the Kats clawed their way back into Scottish League title contention with a determined 60-48 win over the Rocks at St Maurice’s High School, Cumbernauld.

“We dominated from start to finish and were never behind,” said Scottish internationalist Lauren Walker, who added: “This time we controlled the game, with our defence the key, but it was a great team effort.”

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Vital in that defence was centre Rowan Bell, who also top-scored for Kats with 19 points, while Sarah O’Brien and Tracey Phillips both had ten points and Walker nine.

Cup final MVP Rona Corkindale scored 17 for Rocks and Siobhan Moore 13.

It was a day for the centres with another Scottish internationalist Julie Ritchie scoring 25 points for Polonia Phoenix in their 62-36 home win over St Mirren at Wester Hailes, a result which keeps the Capital side’s faint title hopes alive.

Meanwhile, in the Scottish Men’s League, Edinburgh Kings – led by 18 each from Ed Rekis and Simon Flockhart – quelled under-strength Glasgow Storm 87-32 in a no-contest at Portobello to keep their sights very much on the championship flag.

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Lee Reilly added 12, Craig Reilly ten and Paddy Campbell nine.

It was more exciting at the Crags Sports Centre where visitors Stirling Knights just held off Boroughmuir Blaze 78-75 after overtime on Saturday.

Jack Burgess scored 26 for the visitors who had former Kings and Peregrines centre Rob Jansson back with 18.