East Glendalough School

Boys Basketball News

U.16/19 BOYS BASKETBALL REPORT

Our U.19 team had a very strong panel of players this year and there was a lot of competition for starting five positions. The team showed great early promise with convincing wins against St. Killians, St. Andrews, Blackrock College, St. Marys (Terenure) and a walkover against Marian College. As group winners, we went into our quarter final game against Kings Hospital with high hopes. All was going according to plan in the first two quarters of this game and we were 16 points up at half time. This was despite the loss of inspirational team captain Nathan Condell who was fouled off in the second quarter. Vice captain David Van Story and Mark Hardy were proving a real handful for the KH defence. In the third quarter KH upped the tempo of their game and we found it difficult to break down their “pressure” defence. Clive Crammond did his best to rally the troops but KH were slowly cutting down our lead. Our cause was not helped by the loss of two more of our best players, Mark Hardy and Calum Watson, who were harshly fouled off for reaching five personal fouls each. As the game neared its conclusion, we found ourselves 3 points up, with possession of the ball and with just eight seconds left on the clock. Due to some poor decision making, we gave away possession and KH managed to tie the game and bring it to overtime. At this stage, all the momentum was with KH and despite our best efforts, they went on to win the game by just one basket. This was heartbreaking for us; especially as it was a game we could have and should have won. But, as the saying goes:

IF YOU COULDA AND SHOULDA, YOU WOULDA

U.19 PANEL

NATHAN CONDELL (CAPTAIN), DAVID VAN STORY (VICE CAPTAIN), MARK HARDY, CLIVE CRAMMOND, CALUM WATSON, KANE D’ARCY, SCOTT MC GINN, STEPHEN PAUL, EIRIK TONNIES, MATTHEW BINIONS, MAX MATTHEWS, DAN BEHAN, BEN MANGAN

Our U.16 team probably exceeded all expectations this year by also qualifying from their group as winners. We had a very young team (all third years) and most of our opponents were physically bigger and stronger. We therefore had to rely on good technique and game play. Our quarter final match was against Moyle Park College and despite a gallant effort on the day; we weren’t quite good enough. The whole team demonstrated a great attitude in this game and they made MP fight all the way. Indeed, at the end of the third quarter, there was only 6 points separating the teams. Team captain Tom McHugh, Duane Topham and Colin Woodroofe all had terrific games but in the end MP ran out comfortable winners.

U.16 PANEL

TOM MC HUGH (CAPTAIN), DUANE TOPHAM (VICE CAPTAIN), CILLIAN THOMPSON, STEPHEN COLLINS, ANDREW YAGUE, AARON MURPHY, COLIN WOODROOFE, FERGAL MARSHALL, CIARAN MC GETTIGAN