Stirling basketball erupted this week as the Men’s 2nd team held out against Glasgow Caledonian, winning the game with a three-point buzzer beater. Thanks to the winning shot from team captain Ryan Travers, Stirling ended the game with a 55-52 victory.
The Women’s 2nd team also returned to the court this week but suffered a 42-102 defeat in what continues to be a developmental season.
The Men’s 2nd teams of Stirling and Glasgow Caledonian were going toe-for-toe on Wednesday, exchanging shot for shot and pushing the game into overtime. With seven seconds left and 52-52 on the board, Stirling had possession.
Two opponents closed in on Stirling’s Kenny Newman as he made a cut to the basket, resulting in a pass to captain Ryan Travers. Catching the ball with just a second left, Travers shot the ball over Glasgow’s center – the buzzer ringing in his ear.
“Everything was in slow motion” laughs Travers. “It’s a bit of a blur; the whole team was just going crazy celebrating.” The ball dropped through the basket, and three points and the win were awarded to Stirling’s Men’s 2nd team.
The shot not only won the game but also propelled Stirling to the top of Scotland’s 5A Division. With just two games left in the season, the Men’s 2nd team are in the best possible position to be promoted.
Stirling’s Women’s 2nd team struggled against Edinburgh College’s 1st team, suffering a 60-point loss. While this is a common theme this season, it’s important to understand that the Women’s 2nd is a developmental team.
This is their second season ever: a stage in any team’s history that is less about wins and more about development. The Women’s 2nd team are still discovering their identity, their presence, and their style of basketball.
Looking back, last week saw the Men’s 1st team captain Owain Clark leave their game after rolling his ankle early in the first quarter. The full extent of the injury is now clear, and unfortunately Clark’s ankle is broken.
This puts him out for the season ahead of the final two games: matchups that demand wins if the Men’s 1st team hopes to avoid relegation. Clark admits it “will be really tough not being on the court to help the team.”
Though he’ll make his presence known off the court, Clark explains that the most disappointing aspect is not being able to close the season out with his teammates – some of whom he’s played with for four years. These players are graduating in the summer, and Clarks says it’s “sad knowing I’ve already played my last game with them.”
Despite reading week pressing pause on Stirling basketball, your weekly update will still be available on Brig! Each team’s current standing will be analysed alongside previews of their upcoming games, which includes the dominant Women’s 1st team’s first game of the semester.
Current Standings:
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