UCC Demons run out of steam in the final quarter as Killester capture national cup glory

Killester 92 

UCC Demons 75 

A stunning last quarter from Killester proved too much for UCC Demons to handle as the Dublin side were crowned Pat Duffy National Cup Cup champions at the National Basketball Arena on Saturday night.

The Killester MVP American Isiah Dasher gave an exhibition of shooting and ended up with a game high 31 points.

Demons basically ran out of gas coming down the stretch but in truth when your professionals at the not at the race in a national final final you have little chance of championship honours.

Demons started well and a stunning James Hannigan three pointer had the faithful in rapture, but Paul Dick responded with a coast-to-coast basket.

The atmosphere was electric with the match officials allowing a lot of contact go from both sides in the offence court.

Killester suddenly got a run and with Demons missing a number of easy tips the Dublin side surged into a 14-9 lead.

Midway through the quarter the game looked to be running away from Demons as their shooting options bordered on the ridiculous and a Paul Dick lay up in the seventh minute gave them a seven-point lead 16-9.

Kyle Hosford was doing well for Demons and when he nailed a couple of free throws in the eight minute the lead was reduced to four points.

Not for the first time in this game was contact left go and Demons suffered in the closing minute as Killester punished them with two late baskets that saw them establish an eight-point lead 26-18 lead entering the second quarter.

Tillman resumed with a slammer but Killester kept responding and consecutive baskets from Dasher saw them race into an eight-point lead in the 14th minute.

There is little doubt Demons now looked a side on the ropes but suddenly they found a new lease of life and they responded with three unanswered baskets that reduced the deficit to two points with four minutes remaining to the interval.

The closing minutes were tense with both sides missing easy tips but carless play from Demons gave Killester a couple of easy baskets in the closing minute that regained their six-point lead.

Luckily Demons had the final say with a brace of Lehane free throws that saw them go in at the break trailing 45-41.

Looking at the half time stats Demons American Patrick Robinson had a disastrous half contributing a mere two points that hurt his team.

Both teams had poor shooting averages outside the arc with Demons 4/14 and Killester faring worse when they also chipped in with 4/19.

Poor defence again from Demons allowed Baptiste in for an easy tip but Robinson was on hand to execute his second basket for Demons.

The sides were level in the 23rd minute but Demons battled back and went ahead following a Christensen basket a minute later.

In the closing possession Demons had the final say when Blake Murphy nailed a three pointer that reduced the deficit to the minimum 63-62 entering the final quarter.

The restart saw Demons resume with their careless shooting and Killester basically picked them off and a time out was called by Demons coach with 7.15 remaining with his side trailing 70-68.

There is little doubt Demons American pairing were struggling big time in this game with Tillman missing numerous easy tips and Robinson totally out of sorts.

Midway through the quarter Killester took control as the Dasher scoring avalanche ensured the title was going to Clontarf for the sixth time.

MVP: Isiah Dasher (Killester) Killester: I Dasher 31, K Harrell 16, B Chizelas 12.

UCC Demons: J Hannigan 17, P Robinson 16, E Tillman 13.

Killester: P Dick, C Evans, D Sheridan, A McGeever, E McKean, P Sullivan, I Dasher, F Raheem, C Roe, K Harrell, B Chazelas, E Kiernan.

UCC Demons: S Hannigan, B Murphy, T Christensen, P Robinson, J Hannigan, D Lehane, E Spudis, K Hosford, C Looney, D Cuff, E Tillman.

Referees: Emma Perry (Dublin), Majiec Namizek (Dublin), Jamie Dooley (Portlaoise).