Newry Basketball Clubs U14 teams started their season last week with a trip away to Omagh thunder. The last time these two teams met was in the Semi final last year, in which Newry won by a single point. Most of that team from last year have moved up to U16 so it was some fresh faces that took to the floor that morning. Unfortunately first time nerves showed and right from the start Omagh showed they meant business.
Even as the teams warmed up it was clear that Newry were going to have to work hard. Omagh had been lucky this year and a lot of familiar faces were on the court. For half the Newry team this was their first ever competitive game and at the start the nerves showed.
Captain Ross McQuillan led the team out in the first quarter and right from the tipoff Omagh were putting Newry under pressure. Omaghs captain P Cunnigham scored 2 three pointers in quick succession followed shortly after by another from I weir. Shay McMillan and Lee Murnin both tried to hold back the offence under the Newry basket but Omagh were relentless, and Newry only got a single score from Ross. The first quarter finished 21-2.
The second quarter picked up for newry. Omagh had played all their best players in the first quarter which meant that Newry’s more balanced squad was able to push their advantage to close the gap. This time It was Newry’s guards who went on the offensive. On his competitive debut, Newry’s youngest player, 9 year old Luke Gachette showed great spirit against the older players making a basket from play with almost his first touch of the ball. Dean McKay racked up an impressive 5 points in the quarter hussling after every ball with the assistance of Gareth McMillan, who also made a basket. Newry also looked much more settled on defence and held omagh to 4 points for the quarter. Cillian Cumiskey and Conan Murnin held out under the basket and Newry were able to close the gap going into the half, 25 to 11.
In the second half Omagh started to pull away again. The Flyers never seemed to get into a rhythm and struggled to make baskets. When on defence Newry failed to make rebounds and Omagh were finishing their second and sometimes third shots on basket. On offense, turnovers were a problem with too many plays ending in Omagh taking the ball and not even getting a good shot. If a shot went up and missed Newry’s lack of rebounding strength again showed and they didn’t get many second chance. If fell to another debutant Conor Mathers to put up some points along with Gareth McMillan. Newry fell back again to and went into the final quarter down 20 points. 35-15.
At this point a win looked unachievable. This didn’t stop captain Ross McQuillan stepping up and showing some great individual skills and relentlessly driving at the Omagh defence. Throughout the quarter he put up 12 points. Unfortunately it was too little too late and even though he managed to close the gap, the game finished 41-27.
Players & Scorers
Ross McQuillan (c) 14
Dean Mc Kay 5
Gareth McMillan 2
Luke Gachette 2
Cillian Cumiskey 2
Conor Mathers 2
Shay McMillan 0
Conor Crawley 0
Glen Mc Loughlin 0
Conan Murnin 0
Lee Murnin 0
