Debut to remember
The new basketball season has begun and the East Lothian Peregrines’ opening fixture was at St Mirren.
The P’s have boosted their squad with the return of two former players, Adam Johnstone and Stefano Lucernoni, plus 18-year-old John Browne from Boroughmuir. It was the teenager who was to prove to be the inspiration for a fantastic, hard-fought victory for the Peregrines with a magnificent 20 points.The P’s started extremely well, with Cameron MacGrain scoring three three-pointers (15) in the opening period as the Peregrines raced into a 24-16 first-quarter lead. The second quarter was to be the time for John Browne to step up and score 12 points as the P’s consolidated their advantage and ended the half leading by 44-35.
St Mirren were relying heavily on Nick Collins and Colin Railley, who scored 17 and 7 respectively by the interval. As the tempo of the game increased, it was not surprising to see Grant Gibson (10) stepping up to the line and scoring eight free throws as the Peregrines held onto their lead at the end of the third period 67-57. Collins and Railley continued to threaten the P’s defence, but Browne, MacGrain, Jansson (14) and Lyons (14) were equal to them.
St Mirren continued to peg back the P’s and actually took the lead in the forth quarter, but were running out of steam fast.
With less than one minute to play and the P’s leading by three points, Gibson was injured going to the basket and had to be replaced on the shooting line by Lucernoni.
Mr Coolness personified stepped up to the line and sank both shots and, despite a late three from Railley, the Peregrines held on for a well-deserved victory, 84-82. Man of the match, John Browne.
The county side are in action tonight (Friday), at Musselburgh Sports Centre, against City of Edinburgh Kings. Tip-off 8pm.
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