Newry Basketball Club

Newry U19 Boys team started the 2009 season on the road with an away game to Bangor Sharks last Saturday.

With the boys head coach unavailable the team were lead by assistant coach Ali Gorman who showed a similar flare for coaching the game as his head coach.

As the boys took to the Sharks home court the coaching team hoped for more than last seasons disheartening run of defeats and as the team warm up they began to look a little taller and stronger than the U17 team that fought so hard in 08.

With a mix of nerves and excitement the starting five took to the floor lead by Captain Nial Byrne while their team mates and coaching team waited tentatively on the bench to see what the 2009 season would bring this young team in a senior league.

And these boys did not disappoint, from the tip off the Newry boys controlled the game end to end. What was clear from the start was that the solid zone defence which coach Crawley has been drilling the boys in since last March has worked. The Sharks could not penetrate the zone and the quick hands of Connor Campbell allowed for numerous steals that lead to quick baskets for the Fliers.

Showing skill at both ends of the court Newry took a quick lead and allowed Bangor only five baskets in the first half of the game.

With the first positive score line for this Newry team, the boys held their focus and continued to dominate the game. With strong rebounding from N. Mc Ardle, P. Kavanagh and C. Cull the Bangor team found the boards unforgiving.

Offensively Newry shone with fast breaks and skilful driving the Newry boys racked up the points. Lead by D. Ruddy, T. Guo, C. Campbell and N. Byrne, but it was game for the whole team.

After the game Fliers Captain N. Byrne was proud of his team and said   “Offensive wins games but Defence wins championships” and with the Filers finishing their first game of the season winners with a score line of 59 to 29 its hopefully not an impossible dream for the season.