A DOUBLE header saw Ayr Storm hosting Highland Bears in both U16 men and U18 men Scottish Basketball Championship division2 fixtures. First up was the U16men who were looking to bounce back from a midweek overtime loss to Glasgow City in the SLBA.

With all players back from holiday, coach Danny Gibbons was able to open the game with his regular starters. Mathew Keegan opened the scoring and the visitors from Inverness were struggling to legally mark the Storm players - putting Matthew Morrison and Paul Gibbons to the line early - with both sinking their free throws. Great rebounding from Gabriel Lorimer and pressure d from Harrison Smith limited the opportunities for Bears and storm closed out the period 16:9

The second period saw Storm open up the game with fast ball movement creating space for great scoring opportunities - and the players took advantage and pleased the large support of parents, family and friends. Bears managed to put away 13 points - but the period was one for the home side as they scored 27 points and took a 43-22 lead into the interval.

Period three was almost a repeat of the third and storm took it 28-11. With the result secured, P4 was an opportunity to mix up lines, try players in new positions and see how they coped with the pressure. The scoreline shows Bears won the final period (17-7), however the development opportunities and what was learned in Period Four was more important than it's scoreline. Full-time: Ayr Storm 78 Highland Bears 50.

Squad: P Gibbons (8pts),C Lang (2), I Tomba (2), B Ferguson (8), B Wheeler (2), G Lorimer (6), M Morrison (13), D Martin, D Pirrie (4), N Bradley, H Smith (4), M Keegan (29).

The U18men were not to have the same success. They opened well and held a physically taller and stronger Bears side in the opening period and early into the second as well. However the visitors worked out how to limit the Ayr offence and at the other end were creating great scoring opportunities and quickly raced away. P3 it looked like a comeback was possible, but Bears closed that down and ran out comfortable winners in the end. Full-time: Ayr Storm 53 Highland Bears 101.

In local league matches, it was not a good week for the club with the three Men's teams losing on the road. 1st team: Glasgow Fever 91 Ayr Storm 67; 2nd team: Paisley BC 75 Ayr Storm 39 ; Masters team: Bishopton Broncos 73 Ayr Masters 53.

The women's side were at home and while lost it was good to see new players involved. Final score: Ayr Storm 38 Glasgow Fever 95