4.2.2017: Boroughmuir Blaze vs. Sony Centre Fury 54:59 SCOTTISH CUP CHAMPION!
The final game in the opening day of this year's Scottish Cup Finals weekend was the Senior Men's Scottish Cup Final. On show in the showcase event were the League leading Sony Centre Fury and the defending SBC League Champions, Boroughmuir Blaze. The capacity Oriam crowd was eagerly anticipating this match-up, both teams bringing a large set of fans to support them on their quest for Cup glory. The game opened with Blaze looking the stronger squad, their star players Eoghann Dover (185-G/F-89) and John Browne (184-PG-92) carrying the load offensively. Blaze worked the ball and this play was able to take Blaze to an early 9-4 lead, which continued onto 19-12. A quick couple of made baskets for Fury were able to bring the game back to 3 at the end of the quarter, Blaze leading 19-16. The Fury defense picked up to open the second quarter, restricting Blaze to tough shots, much to the delight of the strong Fury fan base in attendance. On the back of this, Fury were able to take their first lead of the game at 19-21, however this was responded to immediately with a Dover 3 to restore the Boroughmuir lead. From that point onwards, the quarter was even with both sides going basket for basket in an unusually low scoring half for these two sides. At the half, Fury held a marginal lead, 29-32 and all was still to play for in this Scottish Cup Final. Both teams went extremely cold at the beginning of the second half, neither team really getting into their offensive groove, Boroughmuir especially struggling to find shots that were falling earlier in the game. Falkirk began to grow in confidence and this helped them take the lead towards the end of the quarter, finding lay-ups from some great passing. Fury's Adam Hammershmidt and Greg Foussas (194-F-82) being the key to the success offensively for Fury. Heading into the final period, Fury led 35-52, and had one hand on the 2017 Men's Scottish Cup. Boroughmuir started the final quarter with a new-found lease of life, scoring the first 8 points of the quarter while holding Fury scoreless for the first 6 minutes of the period bringing the deficit to single digits. Blaze clawed the game back all the way to 6, when Captain Eoghann Dover who had 23 points at that moment went down with an injury and had to sit down. All the energy was with Boroughmuir now, Fury struggling on offense, the lead still 6 with 2 minutes left, Dover re-entering the game to spur Blaze on even more. Mateusz Kruczynski (194-F-83) brought the game within 3 with some free throws, the crowd became raucous, with both sets of fans hoping they could play the role of the 6th man and help their side over the finish line. The entertainment level was through the roof, tension all around the packed Performance Centre. Falkirk's 3-point lead remained with just 18.1 seconds left, a time-out allowed Blaze to draw up a play to tie the game and as the sides re-entered the court, Blaze youngster, Sam Stott (180-F-97) took a quick 3 which missed everything. Fury's Hammerschmidt proceeded to miss 2 critical free throws but the rebound was fumbled by Blaze Forward, Kruczynski, giving Fury possession. Anger spilled over for Blaze and an ill-advised technical foul for Blaze ensured the game was all but over. A couple of final sequences later and Sony Centre Fury had won the Men's Scottish Cup once more, the final score 54-59.
Courtesy of: basketballscotland.co.uk
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Sony Centre Fury land Scottish Cup
Falkirk is home to basketball's Scottish Cup once again after the Fury Senior Men's side defeated Boroughmuir Blaze at the Oriam in Edinburgh.
The final pitted last season's league champions against this term's winners elect, and after a transitional season, John Bunyan's side look to be back on form.
It began with a slow start where Fury trailed the early stages they finally turned the screw with two excellent performances from Greg Foussas and Adam Hammerschmidtt.
It took until four minutes from the break for the Sony Centre Falkirk sponsored side to take the lead and once they did there was no looking back.
Fury dropped the first period 19-16, but managed to match their score in the second while restricting Blaze late on in the half to end the half three ahead at 32-29 thanks to two late free-throws from Bryan Munich, under pressure.
But Hammerschmidtt and Foussas were key players for Fury in the third, where the Austrian hit his 15th point of the final and his Greek team-mate came up at key moments, as did captain Keith Bunyan off the bench.
The third was key in extending the lead and when coach John Bunyan thrust Foussas into the ball-carrying role with the Fury five looking ever the veterans with Hammerschmitt, Bunyan and Leginus joined by Connor Martin, and with such a high quality line-up Fury extended their lead to 52-35, restricting Blaze - last year's league champions - to a paltry six.
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SBC 2016/17 MEN’S RECAP: WEEK 19
Fury withstood a late Blaze comeback to earn their first piece of silverware of the season in a thrilling Scottish Cup Final. Fury’s Hammerschmidt (26 points) and Boroughmuir’s Dover (24 points) both shone but it was the Falkirk sharpshooter who was named the game’s MVP.
The game opened with Blaze looking the stronger squad, the side from Boroughmuir establishing an early 9-4 lead, which continued onto 19-12. A quick couple of made baskets for Fury were able to bring the game back to 3 at the end of the quarter, Blaze leading 19-16. From that point onwards, the quarter was even with both sides going basket for basket in an unusually low scoring half for these two sides. At the half, Fury held a marginal lead, 29-32.
Falkirk began to grow in confidence and this helped them take the lead towards the end of the quarter, finding lay-ups from some great passing. Heading into the final period, Fury led 35-52, and had one hand on the 2017 Men’s Scottish Cup. Boroughmuir started the final quarter with a new-found lease of life, scoring the first 8 points of the quarter while holding Fury scoreless for the first 6 minutes of the period bringing the deficit to single digits. However, it would be Sony Centre Fury who were able to close out the game, Blaze forced to foul, to win the Men’s Scottish Cup once more, the final score 54-59.