Kool Kats into play-off final despite second-leg defeat

Despite losing their semi- final second leg at home to local rivals Polonia Phoenix, Edinburgh Kool Kats are through to the final of the Scottish Women’s League play-offs.

Defeated 53-51 at Portobello, Kats held on to progress to a meeting with Glasgow Rocks thanks to their 59-53 away win at Wester Hailes the previous weekend. But on this form they may not trouble Scottish Cup and League winners Rocks who beat St Mirren by 58 points on aggregate in their quest for the treble.

Cathy Mitchell had 14 points and Les Jackson 12 for Polonia, while for Kats, Sarah O’Brien scored 17, Hannah Peacock got 12 and Lauren Walker 10.

Edinburgh Kings will take a narrow four-point lead over Glasgow University into their men’s semi-final second leg at Portobello High School on Saturday.

League champions Kings had to come from 15 points down at the Kelvin Hall yesterday to win 74-70, a margin which should be good enough against the much smaller students who were outgunned 55-36 in rebounds.

Much of that advantage was due to Simon Flockhart, who had sufficiently recovered from a recent severe dog bite to score 26 points, while Latvian Edgars Rekis returned to score 16 points.

Also back with a “double double” after an ankle injury was point guard Lee Reilly, who scored 17.

Kings’ likely final opponents will be Falkirk Fury who take an 11-point advantage over St Mirren into their semi-final home leg at the Mariner on Friday.