Forres Academy pupils help Inverness Lions Basketball Club retain their Scottish under-16 league title
Four pupils from Forres Academy have helped one of Inverness Lions Basketball Club’s teams to a league title for the 2024/25 season.
The under-16 boys were going into the season as defending champions, knowing that only a play-off prevented them from being promoted after the bulk of their squad moved into the under-18 age bracket.
However, they still had plenty of quality, with the likes of Tyler Clarke and Bernard Almadin representing Scotland at under-14 level in the past, and currently trying to earn their spot in the national under-15 squad.
That told in the results, with no transition year needed. The Lions would win 18 of their 21 matches, scoring an average of 77 points per match compared to conceding an average of 50 points.
Those triumphs would come against the West Edinburgh Warriors, Grampian Ignite, Dunfermline Reign, Stirling Knights, Ayr Storm, City of Edinburgh, and Perth Phoenix.
Clarke led the way for the Lions, finishing as the division’s top scorer having averaged 36 points per game on his own.
The Lions have now put themselves back in the promotion mix, and await a decision by Basketball Scotland – although once again a number of players will be moving into the under-18 set up, as will head coach Martin Clarke.
“It has been incredibly rewarding, both as a coach and a father, to witness the players grow from strength to strength throughout the year,” the coach said.
“With most of last season’s squad moving up to the under-18s, we only had four returning players this year. Despite this, I had great confidence in the team.
“A stand-out highlight for me has been the collective contribution of all the boys to the Lions’ near-perfect record. Winning all but three games – two by default and one at the end of the season when we were already champions – is an outstanding achievement for a team of just eight players, especially when most of our opponents fielded the full 12.
“Their commitment has been remarkable. Training three times a week and enduring six-hour round trips for most away games, all while preparing for their school exams, is truly something to be proud of.”
Although named the Inverness Lions, players travel to the Highland capital to train and play for the club.
In fact, five schools were represented in the 2024/25 under-16 boys’ squad: Culloden Academy, Inverness Royal Academy, Millburn Academy, Fortrose Academy and Forres Academy.
2024/25 Under-16 Boys Inverness Lions squad
Bernhard Almadin – Culloden Academy
Brody MacGregor – Inverness Royal Academy
Daniel Waldie – Millburn Academy
David Gornik – Forres Academy
Jamie Smith – Fortrose Academy
Josseph Almadin – Culloden Academy
Lucas Carruthers – Forres Academy
Magnus Masson – Inverness Royal Academy
Sam Jallow – Forres Academy
Tyler Clarke – Forres Academy