Neptune finish with a flourish against UCC Demons to win second Cork basketball derby in a week
Jalen Hodge, Neptune, shoots from James Beckom, UCC Demons, at Neptune Stadium. Picture: Jim Coughlan.
A stunning fourth quarter from Energywise Ireland Neptune ensured they gained a magnificent win over Cork rivals UCC Demons in a pulsating Domino’s Men’s Super League game before a capacity attendance at the Neptune stadium on Friday.
Demons looked in control for three quarters of the game, but Neptune, inspired by MVP Jalen Hodge, who hit 30 points, got the Blackpool outfit over the line after an epic encounter. It was their second derby win in a week, having beaten Ballincollig, bringing their record to 2-2 while Demons fall to a worrying 1-3.
Demons got a massive start with a monstrous dunk from Asanti Price, followed by a James Beckom lay-up in the opening minute. To be fair Neptune stayed calm and Kendall Taylor responded with a deft jumper, but the home fans were in rapture when Sean McCarthy executed a basket and bonus.
It got better for Neptune when Jalen Hodge drained a three-pointer in the third minute and when Sam Smith followed up with a basket they edged into a 10-6 lead.
Once again, the pendulum swung with Demons nailing three unanswered baskets as the crowd were certainly getting value for money.
In the opening eight minutes, both teams used various rotations and when Eoin Nelson got in back door for an easy lay-up with a minute remaining the home side led by the minimum.
A James Hannigan long-range three gave Demons a two-point lead and Neptune should have tied it on the buzzer at the end of the quarter but Smith’s attempted slammer rimmed with Demons leading 25-23.
On the restart the tempo increased, and Nelson was on hand for a basket that tied the game in the 12th minute.
After playing controlled basketball Demons resorted to some poor shooting and passing options but luckily many of the Neptune shots were not dropping in the opening three minutes.
Tala Fam although not starting played well when introduced in the fifth minute and his beautiful move to the hoop in the 14th minute put Demons into a two- point lead.
Hodge remained the go-to player for Neptune and surprisingly Demons were doing little to restrict his influence on the game.
Following a Hodge' three Demons responded with a stunning Beckom move to the hoop a basket that gave them a three-point cushion with three minutes remaining to the interval.
In the next two minutes, Demons carved open the Neptune defence with three quality baskets and with 1.30 remaining they had opened up an eight-point cushion with the home side immediately calling a time out.
The home side responded with a brace of McCarthy free throws, but Demons were still in command at break, leading 51-46.
The half-time stats made interesting reading with Neptune 13/22 (59%) inside the arc and 4/19 outside it giving them a paltry 21%.
Demons fared better inside the arc 16/21 (76%) but just like their great rivals they only made 5/16 outside that have them a 31% rating.
On the restart, a neat Price jumper gave Demons the perfect start, but Smith responded with a stunning three.
For some strange reason, both sides resorted to some poor shooting options but a basket from Tillman restored Demons' three-point lead.
Consecutive three-pointers from Hodge had the Neptune supporters in rapture but Demons responded with baskets from Price and Tillman that gave them a 62-60 lead midway through the quarter.
The game was now at fever pitch with both sides going for the jugular but Demons were up three.
Demons lost Tillman when he committed his third foul but with Fam outstanding, they still managed to take a seven-point lead 76-69 into the fourth quarter. Coming down the stretch, both teams showed the same commitment exchanging baskets for long periods, but a late Neptune rally just about shaded this intriguing game.
J Hodge 30, S Smith 26, K Taylor 12, S McCarthy 15.
A Price 29, T Fam 23, E Tillman 19, S Hannigan 10.
J Hodge, S McCarthy, E Lenihan, J Scannell, R Downey, A Heaphy, N Sabata, K Taylor, S Smith, N Power, E Nelson, P Osagie, D O’Rourke.
J Hanigan, J Beckom, B Horgan, D Cuff, J O’Leary, D Lehane, S Hannigan, L Sutton, E Tillman, T Fam, A Price, D Rocha.
Jamie Dooley (Portlaoise), Leanne Aherne (Limerick), Stephen O’Shaughnessy (Tipperary).
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