Season 2019-20

Fury Senior Men V St Mirren - 13th September 2019

USA STAR MCINNIS HITS 31PTS AS FURY DEFEAT SAINTS!

SONY CENTRE FURY 85 ST.MIRREN 81

Scottish Senior Men Soho Wealth Division1 Championship

Former Black Hills State guard, 22yr old, Makaleb M McInnis had an outstanding League home debu as he racked up 31pts in the Sony sponsored side’s win over title rivals St.Mirren. Lithuanian forward Evaldis Burksaitis had given Fury the lead at 82 -81 in the closing minute and with Saints failing to reply on their next play, it was left to McInnis to seal the win with a driving lay –up, that former Fury star Adam Hammerschmidt fouled the American on. McInnis tied up the game with the ‘and one’ and sent a packed Grangemouth SC to its feet with a 4pt win, in what had been a game that Fury and then St.Mirren had led by significant margins. Fury had gone behind early on but recovered to lead themselves before Saints ended the quarter with a 21 to 20 lead. Fury then put a 12-0 run together in the second stanza and with Captain Keith Bunyan adding key three point conversations in the first and second period, it was not just Fury’s pace of play that was key, but their ability behind the arc. None more so than Bunyan’s fellow Scot – Bryan Munnoch who hit back to back 3’s at the start of the second and get Fury on that 12-0 run. As the second stanza ran out, McInnis had moved to 12 personal in the second with point guard Bantu Burroughs 8 personal for the back court due to combine for 20 in that quarter. So with a half time lead of 49- 40, it was the home side who held the upper hand and Saints with a real challenge on their hands if they were to get a result in this opening game of the season, which was of course key to both sides. Saints did start well and a more aggressive Paisley side, soon reduced the gap and with the teams tied at 61 apiece at the half it was now all to play for in the final period. The threes from Bunyan, Burroughs and Eddy Leginas had been big for Fury in the third as they held on to an improving Saints side. The final quarter was a classic Fury – Saints match up as both teams went after the win with some great offensive basketball. Fury Headcoach John Bunyan was forced into two successive timeouts as he saw his side slide to 8 behind with just over 5 minutes on the clock and it was a change of style for Fury – a full court press that turned the game around as Saints committed a series of unforced errors allowing Fury to get back in the game. Burroughs, McInnis and Leginas worked tirelessly at the front of the trap with Ziggy Dauksas and fellow countryman Evladis Burksaitis working hard at the back and it was McInnis with 13pts personal in that final period that produced chants of ‘MVP’ at the end of the game as Fury surged to the front to win the game. McInnis finished with a 31pt debt scoreline, Burroughs had 16, with Leginas on 11 and Bunyan on 9. Fury’s Headcoach John Bunyan commented to Heraldsport after the game – ‘ This was a massive opening game win against one of our title contenders. To provide such a positive atmosphere for the 300 fans is also big for the club and Scottish basketball. Saints provided a tough test and credit to my players for all producing such a determined and positive display so early in the season and with what is a different team situation from previous seasons.'