Ireland beaten by Norway despite best efforts of Jordan Blount and Sean Jenkins
Ireland's Sean Jenkins drives to the basket against Norway. Picture: INPHO/Laszlo Geczo
The Irish men’s team lost out to Norway in the JYST International Summer Series in front of a full house at the Basketball Ireland Basketball Arena.
The visitors were the quickest out of the blocks as their inside and outside game gave Ireland problems and held a seven-point lead at the end of the first period.
Ireland got to grips in the second quarter with Sean Flood showing why he's playing at a high level in Europe, chipping in with 16 points to go up by three at the half.
The visitors wrestled back the lead midway through the third quarter and never lost control with Harald Eika Frey putting on a shooting clinic.
Ireland's new coaching staff have only been in the job a few weeks, so it will take time for them to get their ideas into practice.
The game started at a furious pace, Norway leading 11-4 with big efforts beyond the arc by Jorgen Odfjell and a brace from Silvert Nordheim, which forced a quick timeout by Ireland’s coach Paul Kelleher. Cork's Sean Jenkins got on the scoresheet followed by a steal and a breakaway layup by captain Sean Flood to reduce the deficit to 16-10.
Leesider Jordan Blount then made it a one-possession game, 18-15, with a strong move to the basket and a bonus to bring his tally to seven points. Norway finished the period with Stian Mjos nailing three foul shots to take a 28-21 lead into the second quarter.
The boys in green reduced the deficit when Flood made two foul shots and then a bucket underneath the basket, which forced the Norway coach into a timeout.
The Arena then erupted when Jenkins drained a monstrous three and that was followed by a pair of foul shots and a buzzer-beating three by Flood to give Ireland a 28-32 lead. The visitors finished the period with two long efforts but still trailed 45-42.
Ireland resumed with a Jenkins bucket and a bonus. However, a similar effort by Hallvard Venstad Staff of Norway made it a one-possession game again.
Norway regained the lead 54-50 with a bucket inside the paint by Staff and a monstrous three by Harald Eika Frey midway through the period. To be honest, the Irish team became very sloppy in possession with some of their turnovers coming from silly individual play. Norway finished the period with a short jumper by Lars Espe to take a 59-55 lead into the final quarter.
It was 70-54 after a long three by William Kruse and when Frey drained another big three the visitors led 73-65 midway through the final period. Ireland reduced their lead deficit with a long-range three by Blount and that was followed up by a breakaway layup from Flood.
However, Frey punished the home team again with another effort beyond the arc to push out his team's lead 81-74 with only 1.33 remaining in the game. With only 36.7 seconds left, baskets by Sam Alajiki and Neptune's Cian Heaphy cut the lead to two, 81-79.
However, that man Frey came up with another huge three and also nailed three foul shots to seal victory.
Sean Flood 22, Jordan Blount 18, Sean Jenkins 11.
Harald Eika Frey 23, Sivert Nordheim 10, Stian Mjos 9.
Sean Flood, Cian Heaphy, Adrain O’Sullivan, James Hannigan, David Lehane, Rapolas Buivydas, Conor Quinn, Sean Jenkins, Jordan Blount, James Gormley, Max Amadasun, Sam Alajiki.
Jorgen ODfell, Andrija Blatancic, Lars Espe, Harald Erika Frey, Sivert Nordheim, Stian Mjos, Ludvik Bergseng, Lars Nilsen, Hallvard Venstad, Amund Brataas Morin, Milovan Slavic, William Kruse, Aksel Borg, Johannes Lange.
Emma Perry (Dublin), Joe Lavin (Dublin), Adam Wickham (Dublin).
App?
