Basketball – Kings and Kats back on court

City of Edinburgh Basketball Club tip-off their season this weekend and Craig Nicol, who spent the summer as an assistant to the Great Britain (GB) under-16 team, has moved from coaching the club’s men’s side to take charge of the women’s team.

Long-term women’s coaches Ben Gunn and Brian Findlay have taken over the under-18 women’s programme.

Club legend Paddy Campbell makes his debut as a coach to the men’s team and will be joined by Garreth Lodge who also plays.

Kings are boosted by the return of Findlay Wood (Essex Leopards/University of Essex), Matt Wilcox (Aberdeen University) and Doug Leslie (University of Dundee).

All three had successful junior careers with Kings and Matt also played a key role in the double winning side of 2017/18.

They will be a great addition to a team that finished last season strongly, defending their Scottish National play-off crown with a spectacular comeback victory over Falkirk Fury.

Ex-GB under-20 and Scottish Internationalist, Hannah Peacock returns to Kats where she spent her youth career before joining Scotland’s professional team, Caledonia Pride.

Kats are also boosted by the return of other former players Shannon Purves and Holly Gordon to a team won the Scottish Cup in February.

Campbell said: “The club gave me so much over my 24 years as a player and I’m grateful to be given the chance to give back and help develop what is looking like an excellent squad. We’ve got great depth, balance and a real mix of youth and experience.”

Nicol said: “We’ve got a wealth of experience to build on and the returning make us a more deeper and stronger unit.”

Kings are at home to Perth Phoenix on Friday, September 13 at Portobello High School (8pm).

Kats open their campaign on Friday, September 20 against West Lothian Wolves also at Portobello High School.