Perth Phoenix are defeated

Craig Ritchie

Following a disappointing end to 2017, which concluded with three defeats on the spin, St Mirren Junior Men started the year with a bang.

Saints welcomed Perth Phoenix as they hoped to get their league challenge back on track, with Jack Thomson, Mikey Irvine, Brad Low, Louis McLean and Robbie Stevenson making up the starting five.

Saints were first to score with an Irvine three-pointer after only 12 seconds.

This was followed quickly by a great move and pass by Thomson, which led to a simple finish from Low.

Perth though were in no mood to lie down and the teams were well matched in the early stages.

Owen Speirs was the first Saints substitute midway through the quarter with the score at 9–9.

The tenacious Speirs was soon in the wars and as he fought for the ball on the floor he was struck badly, and had to go off with a serious facial injury, and was replaced by Ross Piggot.

Both sides continued to defend well and there were few easy scores, but Perth just edged the first quarter by 20-23.

The Saints finally found their shooting range in the second quarter and the score moved on to 4134, midway through the quarter with three minutes gone.

The Saints defence continued to be strong and Perth struggled in attack, with the score 45-40 and two minutes left in the half.

A quick break and a finish from Stuart Berry gave a half time score of 47- 42 and a convincing quarter for Saints at 27-19.

A score from Robbie Stevenson at the start of the third quarter followed by a harsh technical call for holding on the same player, was typical for the quarter with both teams defensively strong, and giving no space or time to the opposition.

The teams nudged the score along and a basket from Louis McLean took the score to 55-51 midway through the quarter.

Saints were unusually in foul trouble with three minutes left in the quarter, however, Stevenson found his range and a number of scores took the Saints further ahead.

The move of the match saw a behind the back pass from Thomson to Low who fed Irvine for a buzzerbeating finish as Saints edged the third quarter 16-13, to lead 63-55.

Ewan Birch collected a rebound and made the first score of the fourth quarter, and another great move and pass from Thomson set up an easy score for Low.

Saints then scored eight points in less than two minutes for no reply, to lead 71-55.

The Paisley side relaxed and Perth came right back into the match with a scoring run of 2-12, giving a score midway through the quarter, 73- 67, and Perth were in range to strike in the last few minutes.

A typical break and score from Stevenson seemed to settle the Paisley side who comfortably saw out the remainder of the match, with everyone pitching in on attack and keeping Perth out, with the final Saints score being an Irvine three-pointer.

Saints took the quarter 25- 18, and the match finished 88-73.