Last night saw the senior team play their second game in this year’‘s premier league. After last weeks narrow defeat to Lisburn it was all to play for to make their way up the league standings.
Newry played a commanding first half to the game. Scores were spread out amongst the starting five with the guards Alan Gorman and Aturas Kisielius leading the way with some excellent outside shooting. The defence was rock solid forcing North Star to shoot from outside into some of the most unforgiving basketball rims in Northern Ireland. Arunas Kisielius commanded the quay and swatting anyone who dared shoot in front of him. Captain Paul Crawley was also leading the defensive rally, taking some hard charges on the fast break. At half time Newry were up 31 to 14.
After half time the Newry game stalled. The solid defence that had given them commanding lead vanished and in it’‘s place was bad communication and sloppy passing. The visitors seemed to find their range and starting opening up the defence with shots raining in from outside the three point line. The only reply from Newry came from the free throw line, nothing like the free flowing and strong offence present in the first half. At the end of the third quarter North Star had closed the gap to 10, finishing 42-32.
The game picked up again for the final quarter, Coach Pete O’‘Neil ran the bench well and with the support of veteran players, Rory O’‘Keefe and Peter Clarke, the team were able to find their feet again and put North Star under pressure. The Gap remained the same for much of the half, with North Star reverting to their impressive shooting, however there was never a real threat of closing the gap.
In the end North Star had gotten themselves in foul trouble and ended the game with only 4 players. Newry looked very uncomfortable for much of the final quarter with several un-pressured and unnecessary turnovers, even against the weekend Derry side, which will give Coach O’‘Neil some cause for concern.
The game finished 66-53
