Boroughmuir Blaze reach cup final but St Mirren end Kings' hopes of all-Capital showdown

Boroughmuir Blaze face St Mirren in the Scottish Basketball Cup Final

Boroughmuir Blaze reached February’s Scottish Basketball Cup Final following a shock win at Dunfermline.

However, City of Edinburgh Kings failed to set up a repeat of 2018’s all-Capital final when they lost in Paisley, although the club will face Lady Rocks in the women’s final after beating Falkirk.

Despite sitting mid-table in the league, Blaze are cup specialists and knocked out holders Falkirk Fury in October.

League champions Dunfermline thrashed them by 19 points the previous month, but Boroughmuir were unbeaten in four ahead of their semi-final at the Reign Dome and soon led 20-11.

A difficult third quarter saw them trail for the first time, yet they found a second wind to power home 82-70.

“[Captain] Eoghann Dover led us with 18 points, but Brendan Mullan stood out with 15,” said head coach Simon Turner.

Kings were always behind in Paisley before a disastrous third quarter sealed their fate as 2018 league champions St Mirren eased through 101-86. The teams meet again in the league at Portobello High this Friday.

Having enjoyed byes in the previous two rounds, women’s Cup holders City of Edinburgh Kool Kats posted their tenth win out of ten under coach Craig Nicol when they defeated Falkirk 64-46 in the semis in Grangemouth.

It was 10-2 after four minutes, but the gap went down to five points before an injury-weakened Kats side eased away again.

“We had seven players missing but still managed to get a result,” said Nicol. “The girls are playing really well.”