30.9.2017: Dunfermline Reign - Sony Centre Fury 91:96
FURY MEN THROUGH IN THRILLER BUT HAVE INJURY WOE
SONY CENTRE FURY SM 96 DUNFERMLINE REIGN 91
Scottish Cup 2cd Round Senior Men
Scorers – ADAM HAMMERSCHMIDT 30PTS
-KEITH BUNYAN 6 THREES 20PTS
-EDDIE LEGINAS -GREG FOUSSAS 16PTS
Scottish Cup holders Fury Men allowed a 16pt lead with 6 minutes to play, to dissolve in the final minutes to 2, but their experience and desire to retain and win the Scottish Cup for a third time in 4 seasons took them through to the quarter-finals. But the win came at a heavy price as their young starting centre Ross Gibson was seriously injured.
Gibson who has been a revelation for Fury since coming into the starting 5 last season came down heavily in the second quarter dislocating an ankle. Taken immediately to hospital, Ross will remain there overnight and fears are this could be a season ending injury for the Scotland University International.
The opening period had seen Gibson got on the scoresheet as Fury battled an energetic Reign side who led 22-19 at the end of the first. Austrian Adam Hammerschmidt led Fury in this period with 9 personal. In what was almost a repeat of the Championship match between the sides just a couple of weeks ago, Fury took control of the second and led by double digits, only to see Reign reduce the Falkirk side’s to 6 at the half. The second period had seen Fury hit 6 threes with Eddy Leginas netting three of them but had also seen that bad injury to Gibson. The third saw Fury push the lead out to 9 by the end of the quarter with Leginas, Keith Bunyan and Hammerschmidt key Fury scorers.
The final period saw Bunyan take his tally of threes for the game to 6 as he left the home fans stunned with three triples in a row at the start of the stanza. Fury were now in complete control and with 6 minutes to play led by 16. But failure to execute in the next 4 minutes by Fury, saw Reign dig deep and pull the game back to 2pts. But the huge effort by the home team turned out to be in vain as the Sony sponsored side’s Greek forward Greg Foussas put 7 personal on the board, 6 from the line in the final minutes of the game. Hammerschmidt and Bryan Munnoch sealing the win.
Fury Headcoach John Bunyan commented to Heraldsport
“ Firstly we want to wish Ross all the best, he was in considerable pain and we are glad to say he is comfortable now after receiving treatment in hospital. Ross was a major factor in the team winning the treble last season and getting us out to a 4-0 start in the Championship this season. He has been with the club since cadet basketball and there is small hope he may return before the end of the season. His injury is clearly a blow to the team but his return to fitness is the main issue. In respect of the game today we knew we were in for a tough match and Reign did not back down and took the game to the wire. Our 16pt lead should have seen us through but we had to dig deep to get the win and full credit to our players for getting us to the next round. There were excellent offensive performances but we need to look at giving up 91pts. We have a tough game at home next Friday against Edinburgh Kings and with Ross out we need to look at our game and season plan moving forward without him. “