FURY IN BRITISH TROPHY SEMI-FINALS!

SIGNS EXPRESS FURY 79 NOTTINGHAM HOODS 66

British Basketball Championship BCB Trophy Quarter-Final

Signs Express Fury have posted one of , if not the biggest basketball result in Scottish grassroots basketball for 30 years with a sensational win on the road against BCB League side - the Nottingham Hoods. The 13pt win for the Falkirk side in Nottingham made it 3 wins in a row for Fury in their BCB Trophy campaign as they battled out the group stages, to a quarter - final win over the Hoods to now the Final 4 of what is a major British basketball competition. 23 points from Ali Fraser and

 20 for Murray Hendry were the big numbers for the Signs Express sponsored side.

Fury, one of two Scottish clubs in the 16 team competition which also saw 14 British Championship League English sides

start in 4 groups of 4. Fury lost out in their first group game on the road to Yorkshire Dragons, then with the addition of two former pro BB//SLB players to their line up - GB International centre Fahro Alihodzic and American Prince Onwas, Fury produced two sensational home wins over fellow Scots Boroughmuir Blaze from Edinburgh and Newcastle Knights.

That meant Fury had finished runners-up in their group and then faced group 3 winners, the much fancied Nottingham Hoods in the Final 8. But it was Fury who dominated for most of the game, winning every quarter and at one stage taking an 18pt lead over their English rivals.

While all the English BCB sides are semi-professional, half of Fury's side are former pro players. Jonny Bunyan, Bantu Burroughs, Princeton Onwas, Murray Hendry, Fahro Alihodzic and Ali Fraser, mostly all having had lengthy careers in pro leagues in GB and Europe, with at some point having played together with pro sides the Glasgow Rocks/Caledonia Gladiators.

That connection and experience coupled with 6 other very talented players has seen Fury defy the odds to make the semi-finals.

Ali Fraser was unstoppable in the opening period against Hoods inside as Fury edged the first quarter 20-18. An early 3 from Jonny Bunyan saw him being closely guarded on the perimeter with options opening up inside for Fraser, Alihodzic and Hendry.

Ahead by 7 at the half with a 40-33 score line Fury moved up a gear in the 3rd quarter as they moved to a 17pt lead at 66-49 by the end of the period.

The Scottish side used their experience and size ( 6 blocks ) to see out the game for a 13pt , 79 - 66 win and a place in the Final 4. Prince Onwas finished with a double - double of 11pts and 10 rebounds with Fahro Alihodzic on 10pts and 8 rebounds.

Fury kept a tight rotation with literally only 7 players in the game. Jonny Bunyan, Bantu Burroughs and Eddie Leginas controlled the game from the guard spot as Fury racked up big numbers inside with 58 pts in the paint and a 70% conversion rate.

The Falkirk side had 21pts off the bench to Hoods 9, another key factor in the win.

Fury Headcoach John Bunyan commentated to Heraldsport after the game -

" This has been a huge effort from the players after losing out in our opening game to winning 3 in a row that has taken us into the Semi-Finals. As Scottish Champions we are certainly aware of ' flying the flag for Scottish basketball' and the players have really stepped up and delivered. Nottingham were fancied to go all the way to the final and for us now to have defeated two quality English sides it's no mean achievement for a grassroots club from Falkirk!

Of course it's not just about the game time, our training intensity has stepped up and Keith and I have worked with what are, a very experienced group of players in all our game plans. Gordon continues to work on team fitness and we know all these aspects are key when going up against teams who are training a lot more than we are. The fact we played these 4 BCB games in under 2 weeks is a testimony to the resilience of our players and we look forward to the semi-final ahead. I would also like to thank our sponsors Signs Express Falkirk for their additional support in what has been and continues to be a successful but expensive campaign.

After an open draw the semi-finals will see Fury Senior Men play the team who defeated them in their opening game - Yorkshire Dragons.

No date has been set for the tie but Fury have been drawn at home and with key players Fahro Alihodzic and Prince Onwas who did not play against Dragons in the group, now in Fury's line -up, the semi-final has all the hallmarks of being a hugely exciting open contest.

In the other Semi-Final, Birmingham Rockets play the Milton Keynes Breakers.