BASKETBALL
Ayr Storm’s U16 women started 2022 the way they had finished 2021 with a solid win in their Scottish Cup Quarter Final against Falkirk Fury in Grangemouth.
Ayr never looked back after a Grace Mitchell lay-up, straight from the opening tip, and set a pace the home side found hard to handle.
Ten points apiece from captain, Alix McIntosh and guard, Brooke Beveridge helped the visitors open up an impressive 34-3 first quarter lead.
The home side deserved a huge amount of credit and fought back in the second quarter, behind ten points from McBain, to narrow Storm’s advantage at the half to 44-21.
The Ayr girls came out for the third quarter with a lot more control and returned to their solid defense which had proved so successful in the first period.
A further six points from point, Lauren Cooper saw the lead pushed out to 33 points.
The fourth quarter followed in a similar vein and Storm took their place in the semi-finals with a 69-32 victory.
Head coach, Laura Nisbet, said: “The girls haven’t played for a month due to Government restrictions, but they came flying out the traps tonight.
“The first quarter was as good a team display as I’ve seen from this squad.”
The U14’s were also in action against a strong Boroughmuir Blaze side in Edinburgh.
Despite 17 points from captain Rachel Fisher, the home side won 58-27, but the young Ayrshire side had improved massively, on both ends of the court, from the sides first meeting earlier in the season.