THE Ayr Storm U16 men showed their character bouncing back from last week's Ayrshire derby defeat with a focussed performance against St Mirren in the Scottish Basketball Championship U16 Men Division 2.

Saints took the honours in a high scoring game (87-79) earlier in the season so Storm were looking to not just reverse the result but to also take the head to head in case the teams end the season tied on pts.

The opening period was a contrast of styles with Ayr looking for early scoring opportunities and Saints happy to swing the ball about and use the full 24seconds of the shot clock. Matthew Morrison returning from illness made an early impact with five points in the period, taking the scoring pressure of Mathew Keegan and Paul Gibbons. The visitors though hung in there and the Ayr lead was only 14-10 at the end of the period. Period 2 was to be the turning point - better defence and improved blocking out and rebounding with Lorimer, Kerr and Pirie dominating the boards, the visitors no 2nd shot chances and they only managed 5pts versus Ayr's 14 to give the home side a 28-15 half-time lead.

The second half saw saints come out pressing - and while they managed to force more turnovers and get some easy baskets, Storm through matched them and it was a 18:19 period. The final period saw the Ayr bench players, Isaac Tomba, Harrison Smith, Cammy Lang, Ben Wheeler and Dylan Martin all show they are ready to get more court time and contribute to the style of play the team are striving for. Great defence helped towards a fourth period score of 17-11 and secure not just a win, but overturn the eight-point deficit from earlier in the season and secure the head to head if the teams finish the season tied. Full-time: Ayr Storm 63-45.

Coach Danny Gibbons said after the game: " This was a great reward for all 12 players for the work they have put in at training each week. Teams think they have worked us out from the first time they face us - but the boys show we are not a one dimensional side and can play the fast break game, or the outside shot and go through the post. Today though the work rate in defence is what secured us such a fine win - as the game was a lot harder than the final scoreline implies."

Squad v St Mirren: P Gibbons (16pts), C Lang, I Tomba, B Ferguson (2), B Wheeler, G Lorimer (6), M Morrison (14), H Kerr, D Martin (2), D Pirie (2), H Smith, M Keegan (21).

The U18 men faced West Edinburgh Warriors for the first time - and it was the Ayr side who dominated the game. Lewis DUnbar and Hamish Ablett were too fast for the vistors and racked up the points on the fast break. Some loose defence by Ayr made the scoreline closer than the play implied, but coach Chris Morrison was please the boys had returned to winning ways. FT: Ayr Storm 66 West Edinburgh Warriors 40.

It was a mixed week for the club's two teams who play in Strathclyde League Division 4 A.

The SM second team face a Renfrew Rocks 3 side smarting from a defeat to the Masters just three days earlier - and Rocks who had struggled to find their range at Belmont Academy seemed to be able to score at will in Queen Margaret Academy and ran out comfortable winners. FT: Ayr Storm 2nd 31 Renfrew Rocks 3rd 82.

The Ayr Masters side had the road trip with a difference - a ferry hop over to Dunoon. A P1 where the home side seemed to land every shot they took left Ayr trailing by 12 but experience and patience led to a great comeback and impressive fourth win this season. FT: Dunoon Lions 60 Ayr Masters 74.