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

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Edinburgh BK88065949016

Glasgow SD65147436811

Strathkelvin7164175368

Boroughmuir8085166838

Livingston4313032277

Paisley5233193847

Under-23

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Dunfermline88064747816

Strathkelvin86253938214

Glasgow SD76165339813

Arbroath84446043212

Edinburgh83545051111

Falkirk Fury6244244348

Troon7164706328

Aberdeen5233123057

Dalkeith Saints7072236097

Women: Division 1

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Edinburgh7 61 51633813

Edinburgh TS84454346712

Bo'ness 84447948612

Polonia55038724110

Glasgow SD73 435237310

Boroughmuir918 39263510

Musselburgh6243414708