Dunfermline youngster stakes claim for a cap

Dunfermline Reign guard-forward Bruce Taylor this week staked a big claim to a place in the Scottish Student Sport basketball team for internationals against Ireland and Wales next spring.

Already, along with his elder brother Douglas, a big part of Reign’s recent success story and their unbeaten run in the Scottish League – he regularly comes off the bench as first or second substitute – Taylor turned his attention this week to the British Universities midweek games.

Playing for the Edinburgh University second team, who have already defeated the firsts, in the Scottish conference division one table, Taylor scored a big 34 points – including seven three-pointers – against Glasgow University and only just failed to grab a winner in an exciting finish at St Leonard’s Sports Centre.

With Glasgow leading 77-75 Taylor had a shot to win in the final seconds which just missed.

“He was the outstanding player in the game,” said SSS men’s coach Danny Costello, who may now add him to the training squad.

Meanwhile former Tayside Musketeer and Scottish women’s cap Yhana Van Wees continues to impress for her new club Cumbernauld’s Lady Rocks.

Van Wees scored 27 points including five three-pointers,as top-off-the-table Rocks defeated Polonia Phoenix 79-39 in the Scottish League at Gracemount Leisure Centre.

“She shot exceptionally well, hitting five three-pointers,” said Polonia coach George Swanson.

Great Britain’s women’s team play Greece in a vital Eurobasket championship qualifier in Manchester tonight.

Victory in this game or against Portugal at the same venue on Wednesday would guarantee the GB side a place in the finals next year.