Ireland v Greece 07/07/15
This Division C European Championship is Ireland's first international tournament since 2009. The format of the tournament is a group stage format six teams with the top four top teams playing a seeded semi final. The two teams that get to the final will automatically be promoted to Division B. That is the Ireland teams goal for these championships.
Starting five for the first game against Greece Joe Hargrow (1.0), Matthew Rollston (3.0), Jason Kennedy (4.5), Derek Hegarty (3.0) and Paul McKillop (2.0). Hegarty had the privilege of scoring Ireland's first tournament basket. A strong start from the Irish as they got most of the early shot opportunities. From an early stage the Greeks found it hard to cope with the pace of Rollston when he was on the ball. The first few minutes of the game were played at a hectic pace by Ireland, they were fast on offence and forced Greece into clumsy passes and bad shot choices on defence. Ireland took an early 6-2 lead. Realising they had the better of the Greeks in pace they pressed the Greeks for the rest of the quarter, forcing turnovers and easy baskets as a result. Kennedy was making his way into the paint easily with the aid of Hargrow and McKillop. Ireland won out the first quarter with a very strong score line of 22-6.
Barry Cooke (3.0) replaced Hegarty and a similar pattern began to develop with Ireland just being too fast for the Greeks. Ireland would create a five on four situation whereby one of the Irish players would impede a Greek player from getting back to defend. Ireland would take their time find the open man and execute the basket to get the two points. The youngest players of the squad Tiarnan O'Donnell (3.0) and Jonathon Hayes (2.0) replaced Rollston and Cooke. O'Donnell got the free throw line on his first possession. Michael Cunningham (3.0) replaced McKillop for the Irish and he added four points to the Irish tally by halftime. Jason Ryan (1.5) and Keith Connolly (3.5) entered the game for their first full Irish appearances. The first half ended 47-15 to Ireland.
The second half continued in much the same fashion with Ireland dominating throughout. Ireland finished with a team shooting percentage of 53%, Kennedy finished with a double, double 33 points and 13 rebounds. Rollston was just shy of a triple double with 7 points, 9 rebounds and 11 assists. Our own Scorpions had a strong game O'Donnell with 10 points, Hargrow finished up with 4 points and 6 assists. Great start to the tournament for the team as they seek promotion to Division B.
This Division C European Championship is Ireland's first international tournament since 2009. The format of the tournament is a group stage format six teams with the top four top teams playing a seeded semi final. The two teams that get to the final will automatically be promoted to Division B. That is the Ireland teams goal for these championships.
Starting five for the first game against Greece Joe Hargrow (1.0), Matthew Rollston (3.0), Jason Kennedy (4.5), Derek Hegarty (3.0) and Paul McKillop (2.0). Hegarty had the privilege of scoring Ireland's first tournament basket. A strong start from the Irish as they got most of the early shot opportunities. From an early stage the Greeks found it hard to cope with the pace of Rollston when he was on the ball. The first few minutes of the game were played at a hectic pace by Ireland, they were fast on offence and forced Greece into clumsy passes and bad shot choices on defence. Ireland took an early 6-2 lead. Realising they had the better of the Greeks in pace they pressed the Greeks for the rest of the quarter, forcing turnovers and easy baskets as a result. Kennedy was making his way into the paint easily with the aid of Hargrow and McKillop. Ireland won out the first quarter with a very strong score line of 22-6.
Barry Cooke (3.0) replaced Hegarty and a similar pattern began to develop with Ireland just being too fast for the Greeks. Ireland would create a five on four situation whereby one of the Irish players would impede a Greek player from getting back to defend. Ireland would take their time find the open man and execute the basket to get the two points. The youngest players of the squad Tiarnan O'Donnell (3.0) and Jonathon Hayes (2.0) replaced Rollston and Cooke. O'Donnell got the free throw line on his first possession. Michael Cunningham (3.0) replaced McKillop for the Irish and he added four points to the Irish tally by halftime. Jason Ryan (1.5) and Keith Connolly (3.5) entered the game for their first full Irish appearances. The first half ended 47-15 to Ireland.
The second half continued in much the same fashion with Ireland dominating throughout. Ireland finished with a team shooting percentage of 53%, Kennedy finished with a double, double 33 points and 13 rebounds. Rollston was just shy of a triple double with 7 points, 9 rebounds and 11 assists. Our own Scorpions had a strong game O'Donnell with 10 points, Hargrow finished up with 4 points and 6 assists. Great start to the tournament for the team as they seek promotion to Division B.