BASKETBALL
SCOTTISH League title favourites Livingston Bulls and Polonia Phoenix will have a busy programme in the second half of the season as they catch up on a big fixtures pile-up.
Men's champions Livingston have played only half of their scheduled matches because of problems in obtaining a court following the decision by Livingston Development Corporation to sell off The Forum, their purpose-built home venue.
But now the West Lothian side are looking forward to playing their remaining games this season at Kirkliston Sports Centre, ironically an Edinburgh City Council facility, and they are also looking forward to building up their playing momentum and catching Edinburgh Burger Kings and Glasgow Sports Division in the league.
Kings have already beaten Bulls once and are unbeaten at the top of the table while Glasgow still have to play Livingston, their first encounter, scheduled for the end of November, having been postponed.
With three encounters to come, the league race is still wide open and, as usual, Livingston have no doubt they will be in at the death.
``Watch us improve. We'll have a game a week from early January till the end of the season and that's how we like it,'' said Livingston club secretary Bobby Archibald after watching his team win the Boroughmuir Invitation Tournament before Christmas for the fifth time in six years.
Archibald, who started his distinguished career with Paisley, now lives in Dunfermline, and his 16-year-old son Bobby is one of the finest prospects seen in the Scottish game for a long time.
Bobby Jr, however, is playing for the all-conquering Dunfermline team who lead the men's under-23 league with maximum points and are unbeaten in the under-18 play-offs.
Dunfermline still have to travel to Glasgow for what may well be the under-23 league decider and, after beating Edinburgh Burger Kings in Edinburgh just before Christmas, have an excellent chance of winning the Bank of Scotland junior men's national league gold section. Tables:
Scottish Men's League: Division 1
PWLFAPt
Edinburgh BK88065949016
Glasgow SD65147436811
Strathkelvin7164175368
Boroughmuir8085166838
Livingston4313032277
Paisley5233193847
Under-23
PWLFAPt
Dunfermline88064747816
Strathkelvin86253938214
Glasgow SD76165339813
Arbroath84446043212
Edinburgh83545051111
Falkirk Fury6244244348
Troon7164706328
Aberdeen5233123057
Dalkeith Saints7072236097
Women: Division 1
PWLFAPt
Edinburgh7 61 51633813
Edinburgh TS84454346712
Bo'ness 84447948612
Polonia55038724110
Glasgow SD73 435237310
Boroughmuir918 39263510
Musselburgh6243414708
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