Wins in the net
Ayr Storm’s U12 girls got their end of season Regional Finals off to a great start with two wins on the first weekend.
Glasgow City provided the first opposition at Paisley and the Ayr girls raced to an early lead. Monkton Primary’s duo, Alix McIntosh and Lauren Cooper scoring eight of the 13 first quarter points. McIntosh added a further two baskets in the second quarter, scoring ten points by half- time. Several steals and a couple of blocked shots capped her fine all round performance.
After the interval, City got to grips with Ayr’s fast break play and Storm found baskets harder to come by. However, eight second half points from Cooper and a fine outside shot from Doonfoot Primary’s Morven Montgomery sealed a 29- 15 win.
In the second game against Cumbernauldbased Gladiator Rocks, Storm trailed 12- 6 at half time.
Dundonald Primary’s Louise Fisher proved a menace at both ends of the court and her early third quarter basket saw a change in the game’s momentum.
Superb defence, and two baskets by Cooper, saw Storm level at the end of the third.
It was all to play for in the final quarter, and again Ayr’s defence remained tight with Lowri Hulme and Neve Mills excelling.
Six point s f rom McIntosh proved the deciding factor and claimed an excellent comeback 18- 14 victory.
The two wins put Ayr in a strong position moving into the second and final game day in mid- June, but further strong opposition lies in waiting with North Lanarkshire Chiefs and reigning champions St. Mirren.
Head coach, Laura Nisbet, said: “This bunch of girls make my job so enjoyable. They never give up, play some great basketball and, most importantly, play with smiles on their faces.”