THE Blue Devils’ bid for the Manchester Area Basketball League Division One title stayed on track when they avenged defeat to their Chorlton-based opponents in the reverse fixture.

The Bury league-leaders started strongly with Nick McCarthy, Charlie Cuthbert and Lin Ming scoring from long range while the home side’s man-to-man marking reaped rich dividends defensively.

Stockport finished the first quarter hitting six consecutive points, but trailed Bury 31-17.

Chris Stainton and coach Mike Nichols got on the scoresheet, McCarthy continued to hit the target, hitting a total of seven three-pointers, while Jason Knowles and Chris Taylor impressed defensively.

Passes resulted in easy baskets, helping Bury to a 58-36 half-time lead.

Nichols then experimented by allowing squad members who were were not playing well to weather the storm. Stockport pulled to within 13 points of Bury before Ajaz Wadood scored close in and hustled for rebounds Ling made a lay-up and Cuthbert also found the target while Bury’s Ergoli Togo blocked shots, helping his side to establish and maintain a bigger lead.