IN their first season stepping up from playing only local Strathclyde League Basketball Association (SLBA) to also playing Scottish Basketball Championship (SBC) Ayr Storm U18 men Division Two head coach Chris Morrison had a target of reaching and being competitive in the SBC play-offs.

With that goal achieved. it was a bonus to also see the team earn its place in the Ayr Storm record books as the clubs first side on the male youth side of the club to reach a cup final.

The boys had a fine win against Glasgow Storm in the semi-final - and faced the overwhelming favourites Glasgow City in the SLBA Junior Men cup final. City went through both the SLBA and SBC seasons unbeaten and the previous week won the SBC play-offs to earn promotion to Division One.

The Ayr side new they would have to limit the scoring opportunities of City's Scotland start Alexander Geddes - and great defensive work by Arjun Nair and Jack Allen were forcing him to take tough shots or look to others for support. City's strength in depth showed through though with Downing showing why he finished 2nd top scorer behind his team mate and scored 13 points in the opening period, leaving Ayr trailing 28-10.

The Ayr side battled hard in all periods and for a brief spell in P2 managed to match City - but the Glasgow side's pressing style disrupted the Ayr rhythm and limited decent scoring opportunities. As the form book said - City dominated the final and finished with a comfortable score line to take the SLBA League and Cup double - however the Ayr side can be proud of their achievement in reaching a first ever final and now have a tough experience to build from.

FT: Ayr Storm 39 Glasgow City 118

Ayr Storm team: P Gibbons (9pts); H McDonald, A Nair (2); C Hilderley (1), J Allen (10), J Sergio (6), H Ablett(2), L Dunbar (9), B Wamuziri, L Waugh.

Coach Morrison said later: "2016-17 has been a tough season of highs and lows - both on the court and off the court. However the core of the team remained committed and earned their place in both the play-offs and the SLBA Cup Final. Six of our points scorers are still U18 men next season so we will build on what we have learned this year and everyone is hungry to take it to the next level and silverware."

The U18 men are already in training for the 2017-18 season and intend to play again in both the SBC and SLBA competitions and build on this season. So now is the time for any new players to get in contact with the club about the opportunities available, log on to ayrstormbc@aol.com.