2.4.2017: Sony Centre Fury - Boroughmuir Blaze 95:75 - Playoffs Final!
Fury extinguish Blaze to complete SBC Triple Crown
The final game and main event of Day 2 of our last event of the season, the SBC Playoff Finals, was our Senior Men’s Playoff Final between the League and Cup Champions Sony Centre Fury, and last years League and Playoff Champions Boroughmuir Blaze.
It was Blaze who drew first blood in this one, taking a quick 5-0 lead in the game. It wasn’t to last for long though as Fury quickly reversed the lead and before we knew it these teams began to trade basket for basket running up the score in a good show of offense through the quarter. After 1, there was nothing to separate these sides as the score was tied at 21 a piece.
This trend didn’t change in the 2nd quarter as again these teams were not letting anything come between them, no clear advantage emerging for either team on the scoreboard. As the half winded to a close Fury began to show their lethal perimeter shooting hitting two 3’s in a row, both from Eddy Leginas, to finally create some separation between these two clubs sparking a late run for Falkirk. Heading into the break, Fury now had a commanding lead, 43-29.
The 3rdquarter went the same as much of the game had, both these teams going neck and neck, but the Fury run had taken its toll and Blaze knew they had to make their own run, and soon to come back into the match. With only 1 quarter remaining, the score remained in Fury’s favour, 65-50.
Blaze poured a huge amount of effort to make a comeback in the final quarter. They brought the game down to 11 at one point, before another Eddy Leginas 3 pointer rained in pushing the lead out once more. Ever resilient, Blaze refused to be easily beaten, again making a run at the Fury lead, this time bringing it to 10. Before, once more Fury bounced back quickly with a 7-0 run, capped off by another Leginas 3, his 9th of the evening. This signalled the end of Blaze’s comeback attempts as they lost out 95-75 in the end. Fury completing the SBC Triple Crown with the Playoff Trophy, their 2ndin just 3 years.
The MVP of the Playoff Final was Eddy Leginas who was on fire from 3 point range with 30 points including 9 3’s, many of which killing all Blaze momentum through the game.
https://basketballscotland.co.uk/news_detail/10021732/?tag_id
FURY MEN ARE SCOTTISH TRIPLE CHAMPIONS !
SONY CENTRE FURY 95 BOROUGHMUIR BLAZE 75
Scottish National Senior Men Play-Off Final
A stunning performance from Final MVP Eddy Leginas saw the Sony sponsored Falkirk side add the Scottish Play-Off Champions title to their Scottish Championship and Scottish Cup titles. This was the teams second treble winning season in 3 seasons and the Play-Off Final saw Fury win by 20pts in emphatic fashion against a Blaze side who had been their closest rival all season.
Leginas was an outstanding 9 from 12 from 3pt range for a huge 75% stat line, with the team shooting 16 from 29 from beyond the arc for a stunning 55%.
Fury, widely regarded all season as having an outstanding group of 3pt shooters that includes Lithuanian Leginas, Austrian Adam Hammerschmidt who had 4 in the Final and Captain Keith Bunyan who had 3 in the Final, certainly lived up to that reputation. But it has been their solid team play at both ends of the floor that has taken them to their second treble in three seasons. That team work exemplified in the opening quarter first 6 baskets cam from different players, showing their willingness to share the ball for the best option. With 4 threes in the opening quarter- 2 from Bunyan and 1 apiece from Leginus and Hammerschmidt, Fury were tied at 21 apiece with Blaze giving as good as Fury were handing out on the offensive end. The second was arguably where the game was won for the Sony sponsored side with a great 22-8 period that included a 14-0 run that took Fury from 29 apiece to 43-19 ahead. With great defence and continued firepower from beyond the arc, that saw Leginas hit 3 threes and Hammerschmidt add another.
Inside, centre Ross Gibson, who has had breakout season had 8 personal in this key period.
The third was tight at 22-21 for Fury but that 1 pt addition meant a 15pt lead going into the final stanza. Once again Fury were paced with 4 threes in the third, two from MVP Leginas and one apiece from former pro Rocks players Bunyan and Hammerschmidt. The final period saw Blaze twice edge the game back to 10pts with their trademark press, but Fury with great use of Greek forward Greg Foussas never relinquished their double digit lead and then in the closing minutes broke out to a 20pt win.
The 4th period again saw Fury hit another 4 threes, with Leginas hitting 3 of them to bring his tally to 9 and Hammerschmidt adding another three to a fantastic 11pt personal display in the final quarter.
Leginas finished a game high 30pts , Hammerscmidt – 27pts, Gibson 16 and 9 rebounds, Bunyan with 9 and starting guard Bryan Munnoch dishing out 11 asssists.
Fury Headcoach told Heraldsport “ This was a great team win, Eddy and Adam were on fire, Ross was great at both ends of the floor with Keith adding key 3pt shots, particularly in that first period when the game was tight.
Greg had a solid game with Walter Lubeigt coming off the bench with some really big rebounds. Connor Martin added energy when we needed it and the whole team throughout the season has contributed to a treble winning season.
Blaze have been our toughest opponents when it comes to the key games and they are a team we never take lightly and full credit to them for reaching two Finals and being our biggest threat in the Championship title race.
This Final was one of the few times we have had a full team on court this season, with either Greg or Walter not being available, so our full squad has played a major part in our success. Having a mixture of experienced players and youth has been key in what has been a significant team transition from 2 seasons ago. Its great to give our new sponsors – Sony Centre Falkirk , Falkirk a winning season, as our program would not be at the level its at without them, RJM Sports Ltd.Bee Copy and other vital partners and organisations that surround our club. “