A FRIDAY night trip to Paisley saw Ayr Storm U16 Women take on St Mirren Academy, and it was the home team who left the Ayrshire girls standing as they flew out to an early 10-0 lead.

Head Coach Laura Nisbet, was forced into an early time-out. Storm re-grouped and started to work their way back into the game, and a three from Melissa Graham on the 1st quarter buzzer saw the visitors only trail by four. The second quarter followed in a similar vein with the visitors struggling to find the basket, and another three from point guard, Niamh Keenan, right before the half ended saw the team's separated by a mere point. Defences were on top and 16 rebounds from captain, Abbie Middleton, as well as 10 from Graham, kept the home team's scoring at bay. It was another three from Graham that saw Ayr take the lead for the first time in the fourth quarter. In a frantic final minute, excellent defence from Monkton Primary's duo, Alix McIntosh and Lauren Cooper, along with smart offence, saw Storm edge a nervy game 39-38. Graham finished with a triple double - 15pts, 10 rebounds and 10 steals. A relieved Laura Nisbet said: @The game was played in a fantastic spirit on the court and credit goes to both sets of girls for their sportsmanship. We are happy to have got win'.

The girls then headed onwards to Dunfermline for two matches on Saturday. The morning game was against West Lothian Wolves. There was no sluggish start from the Storm girls this time as they raced to a 22-8 first quarter lead, and built on their fast start to lead 48-15 at the interval. Captain Middleton, seemed untouchable under the boards as she amassed 26 rebounds, and coupled with her 25 points, made for an outstanding all-round performance. Ardrossan Academy's Michaela McNeil also found her shooting form as she scored a personal best 18 points. Whilst maintaining the lead, Coach Nisbet rotated her squad at regular intervals. U12 player, Louise Fisher, with her six points and aggressive attacking play, looked very much at home at the U16 level. Ayr ran out 80-48 winners.

Boroughmuir Blaze provided the opposition for the afternoon contest, and with a small squad were always going to find the going tough against a Storm team buoyant after their morning win. Graham wasted no time in carrying on where she had left off after her 27 points against Wolves, and scored 17 in the first quarter to send Ayr out to a 30-2 lead. Storm's aggressive defence, led by game-high nine steals, from both Fisher and Loudon Academy's Katie Storrar, caused several turnovers. Keenan was pulling the strings at point guard (6 assists) and seemed to find her teammates in scoring positions with unerring ease. The biggest cheers of the day were reserved for two of the youngest members on the squad. Rebecca Wilcox, playing some excellent defence, knocked down her first basket at the U16 level, to loud cheers from the Storm bench, and last, but by no means least, 11-year-old, Alix McIntosh, nailed a three pointer, much to the delight, and surprise, of the on looking Storm Chasers!Final score: 67-35 to Ayr.

Assistant coach, Alan Nisbet said afterwards: It was a big ask for the girls to win all three games inside 24 hours, but they showed once again their true grit and determination to get the job done. '