MIM Livingston re-emphasised their supremacy in Scottish basketball

with an 85-56 victory over Cumnock in last night's Scottish Cup final at

Glasgow's Kelvin Hall. It was their ninth win in the event.

All of the hard work was done in the first half as MIM led 41-17,

although Cumnock had themselves to blame for some indifferent shooting.

Iain MacLean, the powerful Scottish internationalist, had a memorable

match, scoring 38 points.

MacLean scored 20 points in the first half, and at one stage hit 11 in

a row for MIM which effectively took the game beyond the reach of

Cumnock. MIM kept up the pressure in the final minutes of the first

half, with Lewis Young finding his scoring touch. There was no way back

for Cumnock, who deserve credit for keeping the scoreline down in the

second half.

Had they played with as much fight and imagination in the first half,

they might have run MIM closer. They had reduced the gap by four points

with just four minutes left, but the holders, leading 68-48, then

stepped up a gear again with MacLean scoring nine points in a row to

stretch MIM's winning advantage.

In a fiery finish, Cumnock captain Jim Morrison and MIM's Steve

Hoffman, were sent off with 39 seconds left after a clash under the

basket. As is often the case, the two players normally are the best of

pals, and indeed they starred in Falkirk's cup-winning sides in the

early '80s.

Graeme Hill, who also had a magnificent game for MIM, scored 15

points, and Young 14. Cumnock's most industrious player, John Duncan,

finished their top scorer with 15 while David Conquer managed 14.

In the senior women's cup final, MIM Livingston also won, with 30

points the difference. This time it was City of Edinburgh who were on

the receiving end as MIM won 73-43 after having led by 11 points at

half-time. It was MIM's fifth successive cup win and their main scorers

were Kirsty Dunbar with 16, and Pam Hutchison with 14. Other results:

Bank of Scotland Youth Cup finals -- City of Edinburgh 59, East End

55; Duddingston Coachworks 66, Grangemouth 37.