15.12.2017: Sony Centre Fury - Stirling Knights 102:82
Championship holders Fury, produced a sensational second half performance to get a big win in their local derby over the Knights. A high scoring opening period saw the teams tied at 25 apiece, but a stuttering second period by the Falkirk side on their home court, saw the Knights take a half-time lead of 50-40. But Fury exploded in the third with a 37point tally that saw them play great team basketball at both ends of the floor and restrict Knights to 19pts, giving Fury an 8pt lead going into the final stanza. The final quarter was again all Fury as they held Knights to 13 and added 25 themselves for a 20pt win. It certainly was a tale of two halves with the Stirling side the better team in the first but in the second Fury produced the type of basketball that has made them Champions in 4 of the past 5 seasons.
Austrian Adam Hammerschmidt led the Fury scorers with 20, despite being far from his best beyond the arc. Captain Keith Bunyan had 17 , that included 4 threes and took his % from beyond the arc to a very solid 40%. Lithuanian Eddie Leginas had 16 with fellow countryman Zigy Dauksas, producing his best game of the season with 13 and a solid all round performance. Bryan Munnoch
with 12 was also back at his best and off the bench Daniel Tran
hit back to back threes in the final period as he got extended court minutes in the point guard spot. Kornelijus Dauksas was not used extensively as he recovers from an ankle injury.
Fury Headcoach John Bunyan commented to Heraldsport –
‘The Knights came into the game with a double digit win and a deserved win over our closest challengers in the title race – St.Mirren, so we knew the game was going to be tough. They have been scoring well and that proved the case in the first half as we struggled at times to defend their penetration and outside shot. However we adjusted well both in what we did and mentally as we were a bit flat in that first half. Zigy certainly sparked the team and I was very pleased with Daniel Tran when he came off the bench also. The third quarter, which saw us create an 18pt turnaround, came on the back of simply upping our defence and improving our execution. We now face a completely different test to the normal with our BBL Trophy tie against a side that operates as literally a pro team. The Riders side are a young, athletic, the team that has a great group of 3pt shooters and they hustle well, so we need to use our experience, play to our strengths and not get involved in a running game with them.
With two losses during the Championship campaign to date we are in a solid place, but we know every game will be a test in 2018, so there is a lot of work to be done to retain our title.“