AYR Storm U14 boys travelled to Gourock to face Clyde Cavaliers in their final SLBA league game of the season.

Fortunately it was a sunny day as the teams found a locked venue and started the warm-up on the outside court while a key holder made his way from another school. When the game did get underway, the Ayr boys played some of their best defense of the year - with Harry Kerr and Gabriel Lorimer winning all the rebounds from any shots that Cavaliers missed - but there were limited shots as Paul Gibbons, Matthew Morrison and Cammy Lang were putting so much pressure on the Clyde ball handlers they were not getting any decent chances to score.

At the other end four of the Ayr starters scored and then when Brody Ferguson and Jamie McCulloch subbed in they also got early basket. At the end of the first period Ayr had a lead of 16-3.

This gave coach Danny Gibbons the chance to use his younger squad members earlier than normal and introduce Kyle McIntosh, Darren Pirie and Joe Mack earlier than normal to the game.

The Ayr side controlled the pace of period two and won it 9-7 to keep a comfortable lead going into half-time. This was to be the pattern of the second half as well with Ayr winning period three 9-4 and the final period 14-8 for a strong team performance in the final league game for them this season. Full-time: Clyde Cavaliers 22 Ayr Storm 48.

Coach Danny Gibbons said 'I was pleased with the way we finished our league campaign and the play of the 11 boys involved today. We started the game with four on court who will move up to U16 next season and finished with five boys who will all still be Under 14.

The squad has developed well over the season and it looks good for both the U14 and U16 teams next season."

Later in the day coach Gibbons was playing for the club's men's second team in a SLBA Division Four fixture that saw a derby match as they faced Ayrshire Tornadoes in Dalry.

Unfortunately the Storm side were outplayed by a much stronger and faster squad which was filled with players who in recent seasons have been playing in youth National League or SLBA Division One and Division Two.

The gulf was clear to all in attendance and Tornadoes ran out comfortable winners 112-21.

The U16 men were part of a real see-=saw battle up in Erskine when they faced a SLBA St Mirren side who can draw from three different teams who play in National Leagues Division One, Two and Three.

The Ayr boys took a small 23-18 lead into the end of the first period but but the home side dominated the second period. leading 42-39 at half-time.

Storm had the upper hand again in the third period thanks to Ablett and Dunbar driving to the boards and led 59-51 at the end of it..

It was all Saints in the fourth period and they tied the game with two minutes to go and then went two-up.

Ayr had two plays to tie the game but could not execute them and final score was: St Mirren 76 Ayr Storm 72.

Coach Sean Reilly said: "The boys finished the season with a great performance, but we just did not have a strong closing to play to take this game, so something for us to work on in the close season. We have improved over last season and the future looks bright for this squad of players."