UCC Demons outgun Ballincollig to continue drive for Super League honours
UCC Demons' David Lehane with a pass around the corner to Kyle Hosford watched by coach Daniel O'Mahony at the Mardyke Arena. Picture: Eddie O'Hare
UCC Demons had too much firepower for Irish Guide Dogs Ballincollig in the Men’s Super League at the Mardyke Arena on Sunday.
On a day when former American stars of the eighties Jasper McElroy, Bob Stephens and Lennie McMillan were in attendance, the present squad didn’t let them down with a solid display.
In a game that never ignited Demons' ability to execute baskets with relative ease proved too much for their Cork opponents. Inspired by MVP Kyle Hosford, who contributed 21 points, they also had solid performances from Elijah Tillman (26) and Patrick Robinson (30).
Joshua Tomaic gave the visitors the perfect start, but James Hannigan responded with a superb three-pointer. Demons' defending was poor in the early exchanges as Ballincollig exposed them to race into a 10-5 lead in the third minute. Ballincollig’s American Quashawn Lane was showing some nice touches in the offence court and midway through the quarter they deservedly commanded a six-point lead.
Demons to their credit responded with three unanswered baskets but they were not playing to their standard. The visitors suddenly got scrappy as Kyle Hosford nailed a three-pointer and a basket that helped them command a 24-18 lead entering the second quarter.
Adrian O’Sullivan stepped outside the arc after just 10 seconds and that was followed by a similar basket from Lane that tied the game. Demons' defence was all sea as they continued to give Ballincollig clear looks and they were fortunate to command a three-point lead in the 14th minute.
Ballincollig went into a lull as Demons took advantage to lead 37-31 midway through the quarter. The visitors began committing silly fouls and following a David Lehane free throw Demons' lead increased to 11 points.
The flow and tempo decreased but Kyle Hosford was playing out of his skin nailing a three-pointer in the 18th minute that gave his side a 13-point lead. Ballincollig continued to struggle on the scoring front. When the ball was inbounded it fell to Tillman who produced a wonderful slammer that ensured they went in at the break commanding a 17-point lead 53-36.
Toby Christensen gave Demons the perfect start with a simple lay-up, but Ballincollig responded with three unanswered baskets mainly down to poor defence from the home team. Amazingly, Demons went into meltdown in this period as indiscipline coupled with poor defence allowed Ballincollig to reduce the deficit to eight in the 26th minute.
Inspired again by Hosford, the home side managed to regain a 15-point lead with two minutes remaining in this period.
Not for the first time dreadful defending cost Demons and with Adrian O’Sullivan nailing consecutive three-pointers it was suddenly 73-63 entering the final quarter.
Robinson got in back-door for the opening basket of the restart but Ballincollig immediately responded as Demons were relying on getting the ball to Tillman at the post to get the key baskets. Some of the defence played by both sides continued to be lethargic and with four minutes remaining Demons had their lead reduced to eight points.
In fairness Hosford was incredible and coming down the stretch he held his team together securing the bragging rights over Ballincollig for the second time this season.
It concluded a memorable day for the Demons faithful while Ballincollig couldn't follow up on Saturday's win over table-toppers Killester.
P Robinson 30, E Tillman 26, K Hosford 21.
A O’Sullivan 19, Q Lane 18, J Wolfe 15.
S Hannigan, B Murphy, T Christensen, P Robinson, J Hannigan, D Lehane, E Spudis, K Hosford, C Looney, D Cuff, E Tillman.
J Tomaic, A O’Sullivan, J Wolfe, D O’Herlihy, S O’Flynn, S McManus, C O’Sullivan, R O’Sullivan, L O’Sullivan, D Herlihy, K Cairns, Q Lane.
E Perry (Dublin), L Cassidy (Dublin), A Wickham (Dublin).
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