BASKETBALL: Bury Blue Devils 90 Our Ladys 62 (From Bury Times)

BASKETBALL: Bury Blue Devils 90 Our Ladys 62

11:00am Thursday 14th March 2013 in Sport

BURY remain in contention for the Manchester Area Basketball League Division One title after a fine home win.

The Blue Devils started with a fluent conversion from defence to attack with Ajaz Wadood opening the scoring before Jay Knowles and Chris Stainton also claimed baskets.

Bury played tight man-to-man defence to stifle their opponents as Stu Jackson scored a close-range shot while Kin Ling hit the target from distance to help Bury establish a 20-6 lead after a quarter.

Bury coach Mike Nichols switched to zonal defence, but it backfired when Our Ladys found spaces to score baskets. However, three-pointers from Knowles, Nichols and Nick McCarthy kept Bury ahead 32-24 at half time.

New recruit Chris Taylor got his name on the scoresheet and McCarthy was becoming consistent from the outside while Stu Jackson was taking care of business inside.

Graham Greene used his athleticism as Bury built on the lead, their man-to-man defence limiting the visitors’ options and they led 54-39 going into the final quarter.

Bury wanted to put the game away and tweaked their attack to find the gaps. At times the game became scrappy, but it was Bury who steadied the ship and sealed a good win.