Basketball hits the heights

LONDONDERRY'S largest basketball club have won the most coveted trophy in junior basketball in Northern Ireland. North Star basketball club U19s defeated traditional basketball powerhouse Belfast Star by 31 to 29.

Belfast Star had already won at at every underage level at the Cup finals day in the Lisburn Leisureplex. Londonderry's North Star U19 team prevented a clean sweep of junior trophies for the Belfast club.

The cup win by the Londonderry boys' team comes towards the end of an extremely successful season. In two weeks time the North Star men's team will contest the semi-final of the senior Basketball Northern Ireland Cup against the University of Ulster Elks.

This was a game that always looked like being a tense encounter following split home victories during the regular season.

North Star's Hugh Barber picked up the award for most valuable player. He scored a vital twelve points to help secure trhe trophy. It was in their defensive work where North Star were at their most effective.

Relentless pressure all over the court caused the Belfast outfit all sorts of problems. Their half-court defense flummoxed Belfast Star and limited them to only 11 points in the first half and 23 overall.

North Star settled early with inside scores from McGuinness and McLaughlin. Hugh Barbour picked David Whites pocket for an easy lay up. The Maiden City team would lead 10-4 at the end of the first quarter.

Belfast star continued to struggle with North Stars size in the front court. Big Michael Brennan (6' 6") checked in to hit an early jump shot, followed up with an impressive block on the defensive end.

Hugh Barbour continued to score at the free throw line while Kevin Stanley controlled the pace of North Stars attack. O'Boyle was starting to find some gaps in the zone for Star as he slashed to the basket for 2 scores. North Star held a half time lead 21-11.

The Belfast side came out with renewed vigour at the start of the second half. They applied pressure defense and forced the North Star guards into uncharacteristic handling errors. Kevin Burns for Belfast Star increased the pace and looked for easy scores. They reduced the deficit in this quarter to only two points to set up an exciting climax.

Hugh Barbour hit a big three-pointer at the beginning of the final quarter to set himself up for the MVP award.

North Star would visit the free throw line as Belfast Star attempted to apply more pressure. Paul McGuinness hit a key basket as time was winding down. Belfast had seven seconds left and a good look at the basket. O'Connor's jump shot fell short and North Star collected their first ever BNI U19 championship.