Basketball: Capital sides content ahead of Cup finals

EDINBURGH Kings and the Edinburgh Kool Kats took encouragement from their Scottish League basketball fixtures at the weekend as they look forward to their respective Scottish Cup Finals at the Pleasance in two weeks time, writes SANDY SUTHERLAND.

Presented with the league trophy beforehand, Kings romped to an 86-47 win over Glasgow Storm in their last home fixture of the season.

But not before they had to endure the wrath of coach Danny Costello for what he described as: "some of the ugliest basketball we've played for a number of years – we turned the ball over and allowed Storm to catch us on the fast break. Needless to say, I had to deliver some home truths and they responded by taking the final quarter 28-10."

Latvian star Edgars Rekis, back for the first time after breaking his nose and guilty of missing lay-ups and being generally rusty, picked up his game noticeably, scoring 14 points in this quarter including two threes, to finish top with 22. Paddy Campbell added 13, Laurie Costello and Garreth Lodge both 11 and Simon Flockhart and Craig Reilly seven each.

Kats coach Graham Gunn was not too unhappy with his team's 67-60 loss to unbeaten Glasgow Rocks at St Maurice's, a result which handed the Cumbernauld-based side their first senior title.

It was the closest Kats had come to beating coach Shirley Birch's team this season and gave him distinct hope that they can turn the tables in the Cup final, especially as Kats will have Dr Tracey Phillips available for that game.