A HECTIC weekend saw 101 members of Ayr Basketball Club and their Ayr Storm teams involved in three towns, one city and multiple games.

This number includes referees, table officials and coaches as well as the players who ranged from boys and girls U10 through U12, U14, U6,U18 and seniors. Let's not forget the large number of family, friends and other club members who were supporting the teams and helping with transport.

It all opened with a shorthanded men's 1st team up in Glasgow to face the Eagles in the Strathclyde League division1. The players involved worked hard but with 3 likely starters unavailable and 3 bench players also missing it was a tough ask for coach Moug and became a damage limitation exercise with the focus on reversing the result in the return fixture. Full-Time: Glasgow Eagles 74 Ayr Storm 40

Back in Ayr, the U16 men and U18 men were in Scottish Basketball Championship action with both sides facing Boroughmuir Blaze in Division 2 fixtures.

The U16 men opened the day in top form with Gibbons, Keegan, Lorimer and Morrison all finding early baskets to boost the squad confidence and give a base to build on. Coach Gibbons was able to give the bench an extended run out in a strong performance from all. FT Ayr Storm 80 Blaze 47. The U18 men were showing signs of their extended break and let Blaze control the pace - but an early timeout from Coach Morrison shook things up and turned the game round with Ablett, Dunbar, Kennedy and the returning from injury Jack Allen all finding their offensive form and dampened the visitors efforts. FT: Ayr Storm 96 Blaze 5

Next day it was the turn of the club's development sections to shine with a full set of West Regional Development League games.

Two Ayr Storm-U12 mixed teams were joined in Cumbernauld by the U12girls and the U12boys. Coaches of the respective teams, Colin Ferguson, Chris Morrison, Laura Nisbet and Alan Nisbet were delighted with the progress all the players have made since the last West RDL day, especially the U12 girls who dominated their games. Each age group picked up wins as well as losses but most important was the progress and the clear fun and enjoyment shown by all players - proud to be representing Ayr against clubs from around the west region.

The U14 boys were in Erskine where they had two games and a tight loss was followed by a good win, delighting coaches Matthewson and Tindle. This squad is also growing with confidence each time they go on court - and is great preparation for the step up to SBC U16m

Back in Ayr a busy Belmont hall welcomed the Clyde Cavaliers for a U16m SLBA fixture. A number of players who are pushing for more court time in the SBC squad put in their best performances of the season and helped the team pick up a win and strengthen their challenge for a SLBA playoff spot. FT Ayr Storm 61 Clyde Cavaliers 42.

They were then followed on court by the men's 2nd team in a SLBA div4 fixture against early favourites Paisly3. Coach McCrorie saw his side play their best first half of the season, leading for most and just trailing by 3 at half time. They seemed to run out of energy though and the visitors used their height and experience advantage to take the win. Ayr Storm 40 Paisley3rds 83

At the end of a busy and successful weekend for the club - only club founder still involved, veteran Danny Gibbons commented: "It is hard to believe the growth of the club and how over the years we have gone from 12 people involved in a weekend to over 100. We also had some teams not in action, so it could have been a lot more. " The club is always welcoming new boys and girls in any of the age groups plus men and women - contact the club on ayrstormbc@aol.com or their Facebook page or www.ayrstorm.com for more details.