Falkirk's own Fraser Malcolm closing in on Commonweath Games medal with Scotland
Former Falkirk Fury star Fraser Malcolm is one win away from a guaranteed Commonwealth Games basketball medal after helping Scotland reach the semi-finals of the men's 3x3 tournament in Glasgow.
Scotland secured their place in the last four with an impressive 21-16 quarter-final victory over Malaysia on Tuesday evening, with ex-Larbert High School pupil Malcolm producing his best display of the tournament.
Caledonia Gladiators team-mate Kyle Jimenez sealed the win in spectacular fashion, hitting the winning basket on the buzzer as he fell out of court.
The Scots had earlier qualified from the group stage with a 3-2 record.
Victories over the Cayman Islands (22-13), Nigeria (21-16) and Guyana (21-14) earned a quarter-final place despite defeats to New Zealand (21-15) and Australia (21-14).
Scotland next faced Australia in the semi-final while this newspaper went to press, hoping to overturn their earlier group-stage defeat and finally break through after losing at the semi-final stage in both the 2018 and 2022 Commonwealth Games.
Victory would set up a gold medal match against either defending champions England or New Zealand.
Malcolm and Jimenez are joined in the Scotland squad by fellow professional players Skyler White and Owen McCormack, with the quartet impressing at both ends of the court throughout the tournament at the SEC Centre.
For Malcolm, this marks a third consecutive Commonwealth Games appearance and continues Falkirk Fury's proud tradition of supplying players to Scotland's national teams.
Fury players Keith Bunyan, Scott Russell, Stuart McKay and Mark Duncan represented Scotland at the 2006 Commonwealth Games in Australia, while Fury head coach John Bunyan was assistant coach.
At the 2018 Games, Kieran Achara, Jonny Bunyan, Fraser Malcolm and Ali Fraser all featured as Scotland reached the semi-finals after defeating England, with Bantu Burroughs also representing Scotland at the 2022 Games.
When 3x3 basketball made its Commonwealth Games debut in Birmingham in 2022 replacing the 5x5 format, Malcolm and Jonny Bunyan were part of the Scotland team that also reached the semi-finals.
Meanwhile, former FIRST swimmer Duncan Scott missed the 200 freestyle final after placing 10th in the heats.
The 29-year-old did help Scotland earn another medal on Tuesday, playing a key role in securing bronze in the 4x100m medley relay. His final leg sneaked Scotland into a podium position.
He got Scotland’s Games going with the maiden gold medal, securing it with a record-breaking 200m individual medley time.
Bo’ness para athlete Steven Stone, who has been part of the Forth Valley Flyers set-up and competes with Law & District AAC, was due to take part in the T20 para long jump final on Tuesday.
But he eventually retired from the competition at a sodden Scotstoun. He reached round four but completed three fouls in the first three jumps.
Finally, Falkirk Victoria Harriers star Kaya Slater is still waiting to make her Games bow.
The runner is part of the 4x100 group. Her event is one of the final outings of the Games, and takes place this Saturday.