Falkirk, Scotland | Renfrew were on the road for their first game in the Scottish top flight and faced a stern challenge in 6 time champions, Falkirk Fury.
The game started on even par with both sides battling for control, starting Scottish Junior Internationalist, Jack Thomson set the pace early on both ends of the floor, allowing his back court team mate, Milo Lockhart to hit the floor in transition with new signing Calum Alexander putting pressure on the Fury defence. Stellar individual shooting from former Glasgow Rocks and Scotland Commonwealth Games athlete, Bantu Burroughs, kept the home sides scoreboard ticking over. Early foul trouble kept the officials sending Fury to the line where they were able to open up a slender gap to end the opening quarter, 23-16.
Falkirk opened the second quarter in a fury, opening up a double digit lead midway through. Fantastic team defence with a number of tips, blocks and deflections stalled the offensive spark, allowing Renfrew to trim the lead. Huge back to back 3's from US Guard Kris Carroll and another from Thomson on the end of some spectacular defence sent the Renfrew bench roaring as the cut the game to 5.
All the energy was wiped as a lid was placed firmly over the basket and turnovers meant Fury once again regained their double digit lead at the half 47-30.
A 3rd quarter opened up similarly to the second as Renfrew clawed back but struggled on the offensive end with turnovers and missed shots to really build on a run, whilst Fury remained hot. With both bigs, Shiloh Wakazadi and Jonny Pettit in foul trouble, the team were left to resort to a smaller lineup on the floor.
The 4th quarter saw a spark from the travelling side on the defensive end, holding Falkirk to 15 points but offensive struggles saw them go 0/9 from behind the arc. Missed freethrows didn't help the game overall as Fury ran out 84-60 winners.
Renfrew travel to Paisley for Game 2 as the take on St Mirren on Friday night.
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