Cork basketball: Kyle Hosford hits late winner for UCC Demons on the road to Eanna
UCC Demon's Kyle Hosford takes on Eanna. Picture: Eddie O'Hare
A buzzer-beater from UCC Demons captain Kyle Hosford gave his side a memorable win over Griffith College Eanna in the Men’s Super League at Coláiste Eanna on Saturday.
Demons went into the game as underdogs but credit to coach Danny O’Mahony he regrouped his side after their home defeat to Ballincollig in a win that is sure to give them confidence going forward.
In the opening quarter, both teams went for the jugular as some of the basketball produced was right from the top tier.
The Eanna American Joshua Wilson showed some nice touches but Demons began a little better with a Seventh Woods basket and Kyle Hosford three-pointer giving them a 5-0 lead.
Wilson and Mathew McClaine got the home side back on parity but a monstrous Stefan Desinica three-pointer edged them into a 10-7 lead.
The intensity continued for the remainder of this quarter and it was Desinica who finished with a brace of free throws that gave the Dublin side a 29-21 lead entering the second quarter.
On the restart consecutive Tala Fam baskets edged Demons closer and when Woods stepped up with a neat basket the sides were back on parity.
Demons inability to take their scoring opportunities in this period saw Eanna take control but it was all to play for at the interval with the home side leading 46-40.
Midway through this quarter Eanna surged into a nine-point lead before Hosford produced a wonderful steal and basket.
Both sides continued to play good defence and when Demons American Zo Tyson banked a shot with 23 seconds remaining the deficit was reduced to three points.
The home side had the final say of the quarter when Kristijan Andabaca nailed a three his side took a six-point lead entering the last quarter.
Woods has been a clutch player for Demons in this campaign and he showed his quality in this period when executing crucial baskets.
Cometh the hour cometh the man as Demons captain Hosford showed his class at the death with a stunning basket that broke the hearts of the shellshocked Dubliners.
R Nelson 20, M McClaine 19, S Desinica.
S Woods 26, K Hosford 12, J Hannigan 11, Z Tyson 10, T Fam 10.
R Nelson, C O’Sullivan, V Lovic, K Andabaca, S Desinica, N Lynch, S Jenkins, M McClain, A Charles, J Gormley, J Wilson, N Comerford.
S Hannigan, M McCarthy, J Beckom, K Hosford, J Hannigan, D Lehane, T Fam, C Cuff, C Looney, S Woods, Z Tyson.
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