Published: Thursday, 5th June, 2008 11:20am

Dunfermline Reign fall short in basketball cup final

Dunfermline Reign 59 Perth Phoenix 63

DUNFERMLINE Reign"s bid to win their first ever basketballTayside & Fife trophy fell just short in a pulsating Fife senior men"s cup final at Beath Community Use School in front of more than 100 spectators on Tuesday night.

Reign, coached by former Scotland captain James Steel, were quickest out the traps and raced into a 10-2 lead.

Perth came back into the game after a few defensive adjustments and some fast break points from Russel Kesson but were still struggling to cope with the outside shooting threat of Barry Pringle and Reign finished the first quarter five points in front.

A three-point play by inside man Ross Dawkins extended Reign"s lead but a couple of quick substitutions by Phoenix and a three-pointer by Chris Dodds kept them in the game.

Reign were playing a flowing inside/outside game by now and another good basket by basketballscotland CEO Kevin Pringle ensured that the Fifers extended their lead to nine points at the half-time break (36-27).

The third quarter developed into a more physical game, with Reign picking up some unnecessary fouls and giving up easy baskets to Phoenix"s point guard Steven Dewar, who was starting to dominate the game.

Reign"s Scottish junior internationalist Callum Nicol, still only 17, played with good maturity and his strong inside play kept Reign"s noses in front at the end of the third quarter.

There must have been some strong words said in the Perth timeout prior to the fourth quarter, as they came out looking like a completely different team.

Reign gave up a couple of quick baskets and then with six minutes left, a three-pointer from Dewar gave Phoenix a 50-51 lead, the first time in the game they had been in front.

Another inside score by Roddy Bader and a defensive stop by Barry Shepherd extended the Taysiders" lead and despite a late rally by John Day and Craig Hamilton, Reign could not get their momentum back.

Fittingly, in a nailbiting finish, cup final most valuable player Dewar sank the final couple of free throws that sealed Perth"s win and extinguished any flickering hopes that Reign had left.

Reign coach James Steel was philosophical after the game.

'We had a full squad tonight and a deeper bench, but when the game came down the stretch it seemed that the Perth guys had a little more composure,' he said.

'Dunfermline Reign have had a great season and developed some good young players and I am sure that we will come back stronger and wiser for next season"s competitions.

'All my players have worked hard all season, and I thank them for their efforts.'

Top scorers - Dunfermline Reign: Barry Pringle 17, Ross Dawkins 10, Callum Nicol 8. Perth Phoenix: Steven Dewar 25, Russel Kesson 15, Barry Shepherd 8.