St Mirren Rock and roll in a high tempo contest
Junior women took early command in fast game
Craig Ritchie
St Mirren Junior Women came out on top as they took on Lady Rocks in the league play- off quarter-final at the Oriam Centre.
Starting with a strong five of Seller, Dewar, McCrea, Macleod and Ross, Saints set out to take command of the game in the early stages establishing an early 7-2 lead against their young opponents.
Both sides managed to get to the basket and score, with Saints playing a high tempo press.
Laura Collins was introduced off the bench to inject some much-needed pace and was rewarded with to late baskets before the end of the quarter, which St Mirren won 18-11.
The Paisley side did not start the second quarter well, with early turnovers and slack defending allowing Rocks to cut the lead to a single point, before an excellent three- pointer from Collins nudged Saints ahead, before Rocks shot their own three-pointer to reduce the deficit.
Coach Renfrew called a time- out and reintroduced Iona Ross to bring some strength and shooting to her side.
She was rewarded with a couple of quick baskets as the pace of the game increased and rocks found their defence under pressure with Niamh Macleod scoring three baskets to end the quarter with Saints 11 points up at 36-25
The second half started slowly, with both teams wasteful of possession before Ross scored a threepointer quickly followed by a neat turn and shot bringing a basket for co-captain Kayleigh Seller.
A high press from Saints brought errors for the Cumbernauld team who soon found themselves 22 points down as Fiona Waddell helped herself to three baskets in a row, before a mini-revival brought rocks a couple of baskets.
However, St Mirren again stepped up their game and ended the quarter 59-35.
Saints started the final period in a determined fashion, with Jenny Hall driving to the basket and Ross grabbing another three-pointer to extend their lead in what was an unanswered 13 point burst to take a seemingly unassailable 72-35 lead with Shona McCrea in great defensive fettle.
The indiscipline from Rocks was punishing them, with number 11 Faleu again fouled out for the second game in succession.
St Mirren finished on a high with a couple of long-range 3 pointers from Huey and Dewar taking the final score to 86-39 for the Paisley side.
Saints’ top scorers were Iona Ross with 19 points, Clare Dewar on 14 points, and Niamh Macleod with 12 points and Fiona Waddell with 11 points.