FURY FALL TO SAINTS IN CADET MENS PLAY-OFF FINAL

SONY CENTRE FURY 50 ST.MIRREN 79 Scottish National Cadet Men’s Play-Off Final

The clash of Scotland’s top two U16 Men’s teams saw no 2 seeds Fury only 5 points behind with 6 minutes of the Final to play , when a stunning 27-3 run by the Paisley side gave them a well earned season treble. Fury had come into the Play-Off Final on the back off a great semi-final performance over West Lothian Wolves and the Falkirk side were confident they could give the Saints side their toughest game of a season that had seen them already win the Scottish Cup and the League Championship. Having lost twice heavily, like everyone else to Saints in the League, Fury knew they had to be at their best and in a low scoring opening quarter, Saints just edged it 12-11. The second saw the Paisley side pull clear, but it was still only an 8pt game at the half. The scoreline extended to 46-27 for Saints after a poor start to third for Fury. However a sensational start to the final period saw Saints being dramatically pulled back to 5 with the scoreline at 52 -47 on the back of three point laden Fury 20-6 run. The already double Champions had never been only single figures ahead all season in the final quarter so this was new territory for them. But the Paisley side responded like Champions and came with a stunning run off their own to take the title. Sam Owens top scored for Fury with 12 points and Jack Davidson had 10. Scott Lothian racked up 7 steals during Fury’s run in the final period. Captain Kieran Allan had a solid game throughout with Ben Small coming of the bench with several key plays. Coaches Ewan Carlow and Douglas McCormick can reflect on a solid season for their side who ended up Championship and Play-Off Runners –up. Coach Carlow commented to Heraldsport – “ We gave it a tremendous push in the first part of the final period. The 20-6 run we had brought us to within a couple baskets of Saints but their pressure was just too much for us as they broke back in that final 6 minutes. The team gave 100% and given we have over half the squad returning next season, they have done very well for what has been a reasonably young squad.”