Juniors thrill in cup campaign

The undefeated St Mirren Junior Men advanced to the Scottish Cup semifinals with a thrilling win over Glasgow Rens.

The Saints line-up was without the speed and energy of the suspended Ally Harris and a number of injured younger players – but that failed to halt them.

Rens were first to score after collecting several rebounds, however, Jack Thomson quickly replied with two scores from the free throw line.

The Rens were equally impressive at the back and neither team could find its scoring touch in the first few minutes.

Scores were exchanged until a minute left in the quarter, with Saints just ahead at 11-12.

A buzzer beating three- pointer from Robbie Stevenson was the highlight of a strong finish to the quarter which ended 12-19.

The Saints started the second the way they ended the first with Mikey Irvine hitting a long range three-pointer.

Saints continued to dominate and Rens were kept out of the paint and unable to score.

Two minutes into the second quarter the score was sitting at 26:12, before a run of 14-1 for the last four minutes took the quarter 22-39.

Louis McLean came on at the start of the second half, which started with Rens scoring from the free throw line.

A great defensive block by Brad Low and quick break from Stevenson was typical of the control Saints had on the tie as the score moved on to 29-49, with three minutes gone.

There was increased intensity from Rens and both defences were on top and neither team scored for three minutes.

A few three pointers from Irvine got the board ticking again as Saints moved further ahead.

Mark Sanderson finished off a good team move to make the score 31- 60, but it was Jack Thomson who scored the basket of the match late in the quarter, as he managed a three-pointer to beat the shot clock as he fell to the ground under heavy Rens pressure.

The final score of the quarter followed a great block and pass by Jack Thomson who fed the tireless Ross Piggot, who scored with ease.

The final quarter started with an Irvine threepointer, however, the Saints lost their intensity, and the entire team swapped out with seven minutes left and the score 34-68.

Rens were able to dominate and the game ran out, although Berry managed a few late scores as St Mirren progressed through to the next round.