UCC Demons edge out Neptune in a game spoiled by the referees who were too quick to call fouls
UCC Demons' Shariff Black dunks the ball against Energywise Ireland Neptune at the Mardyke Arena. Picture: David Creedon
It was supposed to be the showpiece game of the weekend but instead it a stop start affair that in the end UCC Demons prevailed over their great Cork rivals Energywise Ireland Neptune at the Mardyke Arena on Friday night.
Just looking at the stats a total of 58 fouls were called between both teams and a staggering 75 free throws attempted in a game that took two hours and 20 minutes to complete.
This is not acceptable and a terrible spectacle for fans in the sold out arena.
This was the biggest show in town for the basketball fraternity and instead the teams were stopped producing their best basketball due some needless fouls called on both sides.
After the game the UCC Demons coach Danny O’Mahony wasn’t a happy camper.
“To be honest I don’t think I will look back at the tape of this game as we never got out of second gear and we had some key players having below par games but we are all frustrated what we witnessed out there this evening,” said Danny O’Mahony.
Demons courtesy of a solid second half showing from Daryl Cuff and Scott Hannigan eventually saw off the brave Neptune challenge.
Right from tip off both sides played stringent defence with Neptune getting a good start with baskets from Nil Sabata and Cameron Glover.
In fairness the visitors looked a team on a mission and with Americans Zyon Dobbs and Glover dominating proceedings they raced into a 10-point lead 17-7 in the fourth minute.
Neptune continued to shoot the lights out and consecutive three pointers had Demons on the ropes.
Gradually Demons began showing greater intensity in defence and with American Shariff Black nailing consecutive baskets the deficit was reduced to four points in the seventh minute.
In the closing minutes Neptune held firm but a Fam buzzer beater three pointer reduced their lead to 31-24 entering the second quarter.
On the restart James Hannigan and Sabata exchanged baskets but suddenly the pace of the game slowed down a little.
Black was now playing smarter as Neptune’s scoring dried up and a Fam lay up in midway through the quarter saw Demons lead for the first time 36-35 before the Neptune coach Keith Daly called a time out.
Sabata picked up a shoulder injury with 1.36 remaining and that was cruel blow to his team as he was playing solid basketball at both ends of the court.
In the final Demons possession Daryl Cuff nailed a monstrous three pointer that gave his team a fortunate 52-49 interval lead.
On the restart Cuff drained two free throws and despite Eoin Nelson knocking down a huge shot outside the arc it was Demons that led 58-52 in the 23rd minute before a Neptune time out was called out.
The home side then went on a scoring spree that saw race into an 11 point lead as the character of Neptune was now being tested by their Cork rivals.
Hinton picked up his fourth foul but after having verbal’s with the match referee he was punished with a technical foul demons third of the evening as the players on both sides were rightfully frustrated.
The closing minutes were scrappy but Cuff did manage to nail a second three pointer that helped the home team command a 80-66 lead entering the final quarter.
Coming down the stretch the game fizzled out as Demons shaded a game that failed to ignite at any stage.
S Black 25, T Fam 18, S Hannigan 17, D Cuff 15, J Hannigan 14.
C Glover 33, Z Dobbs 25, C Heaphy 13, E Nelson 11.
S Hannigan, B Horgan, J Beckom, L Sutton, K Hosford, J Hannigan, D Lehane, T Fam Thiam, D Cuff, C Looney, L Kivuvu, Z Hinton, S Black.
K O’Donoghue, Z Dobbs, C Heaphy, N Power, E Linehan, J Scannell, S Noonan, C Glover, D O’Rourke, A Heaphy, A Heaphy, E Nelson, N Sabata, P Osagie.
Jamie Dooley (Portlaoise), Leanne Aherne (Limerick), Emer Buckley (Kerry).
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