Six rising basketball stars from Renfrewshire have been in international action for Scotland in recent weeks. 


Euan Birch from Erskine and Brad Low from Kilmacolm, who both play for BasketballPaisley have been representing their country at the U16 European Championships for small countries in San Marino.


Mikey Irvine from Bridge of Weir, Jack Thomson from Erskine, Brad’s brother Callan Low and Christopher Feeney from Houston, meanwhile, were all recently part of the Under 18s squad, which played in a test series in Luxembourg.


In San Marino, the Under 16s who are in action again today, have bagged two wins out of five games so far – a resounding 85-19 victory over Gibralter and a 75-48 win over Albania yesterday. 


Houston’s Chris Cleary, who was recently part of Basketball’s Team Scotland at the Gold Coast Commonwealth Games, has coached Birch and the younger Low at Basketball Paisley during their rise in the game. 


He said: “They have been really much enjoying the experience. It is the first step ladder in European competition and it is always an honour to pull on the strip represent your country.


“They have both represented Scotland at various age groups before, but it is Euan’s first time as part of the Under 16 squad. He is still in the under 12 bracket this year, so it is a really good achievement to make the squad at such a young age.


“We are proud of them and the competition seems to have tested them as they have lost a few games, but they have all been really good and close games and the standard of competition has been good.


“For me and the club we are delighted to see guys and girls go on to compete. My wife coaches the women’s programme at Basketball Paisley and we both represented Scotland, so we want them to get the same experience and go on to bigger and better things.”