Michael Smith of Personal Best: Health, Fitness and Wellbeing, a health and fitness company based in West Lothian, is extending an exclusive offer to all basketball players in Scotland.

The company has gone from strength to strength in recent times and now offers personal training, sports and therapeutic massage, cancer exercise rehabilitation and a GP referral scheme.

Michael has been working with the Scotland Under 18 Women squad this season providing sports massage at training while also travelling with the squad to the European Championships, Division B, in Romania.

Working with the Under 18 Women has helped Michael form close links with basketballscotland and as an official sports massage therapist for basketballscotland, Michael is extending an excellent offer for sports massage treatments.

For all basketballscotland players, Personal Best: Health, Fitness and Wellbeing are offering  fixed rates of £25 for an hour and £20 for a 45 minute treatment.

To find out more about any of the services Personal Best are offering, you can check out their website at www.personalbestuk.com.

To get in touch or book a sports massage at the basketballscotland rates then phone Michael on 07546 356 748 or email at info@personalbestuk.com.

Scotland’s Senior Men were left disappointed after a 75-49 loss to Wales consigned them with sixth place finish at the European Champions, Division C, in Malta.

Having beaten Gibraltar 78-42 the day before, Scotland ended the tournament on a low after a promising beginning.

The heart-wrenching loss to eventual bronze medallists Malta in the final game of pool play regulated Scotland to the lower half of the draw. The game left Steve Leven (elbow to the eye) and Simon Flockhart (tooth through lip) with significant injuries to add the knee complaint Laurie Costello developed on the eve of the tournament.

The situation got worse for Scotland as the Campbell family contingent (Head Coach Tom, Assistant Coach Euan and starting small forward Ross) had to take the next flight home to a family medical emergency.

It was a frantic couple of days for the team as one unfortunate event happened after other.

Scotland bounced back from the low of the Malta loss to beat Gibraltar on the back of a 58-31 rebound advantage and behind Ike Attah’s 24 points (8/16 shots) and 9 rebounds. Simon Flockhart added to Scotland’s inside advantage with 10 points (4/7 shots) and 6 rebounds.

The final game against Wales saw players getting increased exposure as three of Scotland’s starting unit were unable to play. The team’s youngest player, Josh Crolley, stepped up to provide 12 points (5/7 shots) but Wales gained more possession through a rebound advantage and Scotland turnovers to overcome a weary Scotland 75-49.

A disappointing end to a challenging campaign that featured outstanding efforts against tough opposition in Norway, England, Denmark and Malta.

Scotland dropped out of semi-final contention at the European Championships for Senior Men in Malta after a heart-wrenching 89-76 loss to the hosts.

Both teams entered the game knowing that a win would see them join Denmark from their group in the semi-finals.

Scotland entered the fourth quarter down by five points but a strong finish by Malta saw them win the final quarter 26-18 to book their place in the semi-finals.

There was always going to be one very disappointed team after the game. With three such strong teams in the same pool, one deserving country was destined to miss out on the championships rounds of the tournament.

It was Scotland’s players and coaches who were left hugely disappointed after the game, with Head Coach Tom Campbell able to reflect the following day, “It was a great game of basketball. We played well but Malta is a hugely improved team. Down the stretch, things just didn’t work out for us.”

Rebounding proved a crucial difference as Malta took charge round the basket to grab 41 rebounds (64%) to Scotland’s 28 (45%), helped largely by 7’4” Centre Samuel Deguara who collected 16 rebounds to go with 17 points (8/12 shots) and 2 blocks.

Malta’s Darryl Jackson and Scotland’s Steve Leven provided the offensive spark for their teams. Jackson finishing with 30 points (11/19 shots), 3 rebounds, 3 assists and 5 steals. Leven paced Scotland with 34 points (12/22 shots), 7 rebounds and 3 steals.

Simon Flockhart contributed 12 points (6/10 shots) for Scotland, to go with 6 steals.

Both teams play again on Friday. Malta will take on Andorra in the semi-final while Scotland will pick themselves up to play Gibraltar.

Scotland won their second pool game over San Marino 83-69 on Day Two of the European Championships Senior Men, Division C, in Malta.

Scotland led throughout and used a strong start to each half to ease their way past their opponent.

Scotland Head Coach Tom Campbell said, “The important thing was getting the win but we will have to up our game if we are to advance to the semi-finals”.

The rebound battle was dominated by Scotland, 52-29, who grabbed 87% of their defensive boards, helped by small forwards Ross Campbell, who grabbed 8 rebounds, and Josh Crolley, who grabbed 8 rebounds in only 10 minutes of playing time.

Both teams shot 50% from 2 point territory while San Marino were not about to die wondering as they hoisted nearly has many 3 points shots (30) as 2 point attempts (34), connecting on only 23%.

Daniel Donnelly exploded off the bench to lead Scotland in scoring with 17 points (5/11 shots, 5/8 free throws) to go with 9 rebounds, 3 steals and 1 block in only 22 minutes of action.

Big men Tom Pearson and Simon Flockhart proved effective inside the pant. Pearson collected 10 points (4/6 shots), 6 rebounds and 2 steals. Flockhart chipped in with 10 points (5/9) shots) and 5 rebounds.

Steve Leven provided more offensive output with 14 points (6/15 shots) alongside 3 rebounds, 3 assists and 2 steals.

For San Marino, Stefano Rossini provided a focal point of their attack with 19 points (5.16 shots, 7/8 free throws), 4 rebounds, 5 assists, 6 steals. Meanwhile Fabio Tentoni contributed 12 points (4/8 shots) and 6 rebounds.

San Marino next face tournament favourites Denmark.

For Scotland, a huge challenge awaits with their final pool game against Malta to determine which team escapes the group to join Denmark in the semi-finals.

Coach Campbell added, “Malta are a much improved team as they have acquired an American shooting guard and their 7’4” centre is now a much better player than two years ago”.

The game tips-off at 5:00pm Wednesday.