Rival coach tips Boroughmuir Blaze for glory

Boroughmuir Blaze are in pole position to win the Scottish Basketball League title for the first time in over 40 years, according to Glasgow University coach Josh Tackie, whose team host the Capital table-toppers at the Stevenson Building tomorrow (4.30pm).
..
.

“They deserve it – they’ve clearly been the best team in the league this season and, in Eoghann Dover and Tomas Cicenas, they’ve two top candidates for the league MVP this season,” said Tackie.

Tackie’s team lost by ten points to Blaze at the Crags in their first encounter but that was when GU still had their outstanding point guard Ferran Valle, who has now returned to Spain.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

Up until last weekend, the students had still been tied with Blaze on just two defeats but they slipped to a 91-81 loss at the hands of cup winners St Mirren and are now third behind Falkirk Fury, while Blaze stayed top with two more wins.

Disappointingly, tomorrow’s game will be on the old court at the Stevenson as the floor in the new games hall continues to give problems.

Blaze are certainly up for the test. “It will be fantastic to play against a high-tempo team and shoot it out,” said coach Simon Turner. If GU do lose tomorrow, it will give renewed hope for a high play-off spot to fourth-placed Edinburgh University, who are due to meet them in the last game of the regular season two weeks tomorrow.

EU travel to Scotstoun tomorrow to play Glasgow Storm (1.30pm).

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

EU women had another fine win in the BUCS Northern Premier Division at the Pleasance, beating Sheffield Hallam 69-60 to guarantee fourth spot in the table. They still could finish third behind Northumbria and Durham depending on other results.

Strangely, Sheffield eased the EU task by turning up with only five players and no coach but the five who played gave a spirited display and the issue was in doubt until well into the fourth quarter.

Dori Lansbach and Sarah Halejian shared top spot with 14 points, captain Erin McDonnell added 13, Beth Mackie 12 and Shannon Novosel 10.

EU are at home to Colliers in the Scottish Women’s League at the Pleasance on Sunday (1.20pm) but the big game is at Portobello High tomorrow when Kool Kats host close rivals Glasgow Rocks (1pm).

Polonia Phoenix have been spared a trip to Paisley tonight as former champions St Mirren have pulled out of the league.