23.11.2018: Sony Center Fury - Boroughmuir Blaze 89:75
EXCITING CONTEST SEES FURY BEAT BLAZE & STAY TOP
SONY CENTRE FURY 89 BOROUGHMUIR BLAZE 75
Scottish Division 1 Championship – Senior Men
Guard power prevailed with Bantu Burroughs and Eddie Leginas sharing 42pts in Fury’s must win match over fellow title contenders Blaze. The match, described by players, officials and the large crowd as ‘ one of the best they had been in/seen ‘ – the fast paced action saw both teams produce great basketball, played in a sporting manner and great atmosphere. The first quarter saw both sides trying to get an edge but it finished with Fury only a basket ahead at 17-15. Captain Keith Bunyan continued his 3pt shooting form with two big threes in that opening spell. The second was arguably where Fury took control of the game as a high scoring second stanza saw them rack up 30pts to 20 from Blaze for a 12pts half-time lead. Lithuanian Eddie Leginas who was finding his 3pt shooting form, hit 3 from downtown in that period with Bantu Burroughs getting to the line almost at will with 9pts personal. The third saw both teams play up tempo basketball, as Fury matched Blaze’s desire to run with the ball. Centre Ross Gibson closed out the period well for Fury as the Sony sponsored side continue to not just shoot well from the perimeter, but create great opportunities inside for Austrian Adam Hammerschmidt and Bulgarian Ivan Ganchev whose shot blocking was also a key to the Fury defence. Blaze edged the third 23-22, so with the home side 11 ahead it was still all to play for. An opening 3 from Burroughs in the fourth and 4 consecutive freethrows from Gibson and Ganchev meant Fury started well. Leginas nailed another 3 then a 2 as Fury kept their double digit lead going towards the final minutes. Back to back baskets from Zygi Dauskas were key with Fury finishing their scoring from the line with Leginas and Greek forward Greg Fousas. The 20-17 final period gave Fury a hard fought 14pt win and overturned the 3pt loss they had had to Blaze early in the season in the reverse fixture.
Burroughs and Leginas led Fury with 21 apiece, with Adam Hammerschmidt on 12 and Ganchev and Bunyan sharing 18.
Fury Headcoach John Bunyan commented to Heraldsport after the game – “ This was the best game of basketball we have been involved in for some time – the pace and tension in the game, made it great for all involved and the Fury fans who once again helped pull the team through that final period. For us to perform as well as we did without Boris Matrakov, who since he came in has been not just our top scorer, but top rebounder and led in steals – so that’s a lot of stats for others to pick up which they did and played really well as a team. Off the bench, which is so big for us we had 23pts and confirms the talent right through the team. We had to win this by more than 3pts and we won in double digits, so everyone is really motivated to just keep on winning and see if its going to be good enough to take the title. “