UCC Demons gear up for Super League playoff push after superb win over Eanna
UCC Demons' James Beckom looks for the hoop against Eanna during their Men's Super League clash at the Mardyke Arena. Picture: David Keane.
A crucial win for UCC Demons as they saw off a highly rated Eanna side in the Domino’s Men’s Super League at the Mardyke Arena on Sunday.
Eanna came into the game after demolishing leaders Belfast Star but they came up against an ever-improving Demons side who showed composure and accuracy over four quarters.
This was a balanced team performance but Americans Tamyrik Fields (27) and Jordan Washington (26) were rock solid from start to finish.
Another plus for Demons was the performance of James Beckom in his third game back from injury and he had 11 points to his name in 21 minutes of action. Tala Fam has been with the club since he was a teenager with the exception of last season and his 16 points underlined his importance.
The opening minutes were cagey with both teams shooting the ball with precision and a Washington floater in the fourth minute tied the game at eight points each.
Eanna were moving the ball with pace and their first four shots were all outside the paint with young Cathal O’Sullivan nailing two superb daggers.
The remainder of the quarter continued to be competitive and with Fields playing wonderful defence and taking his scoring opportunities with class and panache, his side were full value for their 27-23 lead entering the second quarter.
Both teams continued to shoot the ball well and when the Eanna American Mikah Blackwell banked a neat jumper midway through the quarter, it reduced the deficit to the minimum 40-39.
Demons never panicked, playing controlled basketball and with Washington and Fam excelling in the offence court they surged into a 10-point lead. The Dublin side kept battling but Demons, after their best 20 minutes at home this season, went in at the break with 11 up.
Eanna threw the kitchen sink at Demons but on each occasion, they threatened to get back in the game the home side responded in style.
Washington was very focused on his game at both ends of the court and with his fellow American Fields outstanding in the same departments Demons surged into a 15-point lead.
Eanna finished the quarter strong. Jeylyn Richardson finished with a couple of free throws and reduced the deficit to 10 points, 80-70, entering the fourth quarter.
Coming down the stretch Demons gave little away on the restart and at the midpoint of the quarter, they had extended their lead to 14 points.
It was then a case of closing out the game for Demons and they did so in style and with their defence battening down the hatches Eanna’s challenge petered out. The action continues for Demons at MTU on Thursday for a mouth-watering derby against Ballincollig.
T Fields 27, J Washington 26, T Fam 16, J Beckom 11.
: J Richardson 19, K Andabaka 13, S Desnica 10.
B Murphy, S Hannigan, J Washington, L Sutton, K Hosford, J Hannagan, D Lehane, T Fam, C Looney, L Livuvu, D Cuff, B Horgan.
C O’Sullivan, J Richardson, D Kiernan, C Dikcius, K Andabaka, S Desinica, N Lynch, M Blackwell, A Charles, J Gormley, H Lynch, M Christal.
M Nazimek (Dublin), L Aherne (Limerick), S O’Shaughnessy (Tipperary).
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