Blackstone second string are thrown to the Wolves

In the opening quarter the Blackstone were slow to start finding no scores in their opening seven shots. The Wolves took full advantage of this to open up a lead.

The Blackstone offence worked some good openings for Murray and Brown but they were off target from the perimeter and going to the basket where the Wolves defence was ferocious and forced the errors.

It was the endeavours of Dean Hillis that made inroads on the Wolves’ lead with his baseline drives opening the door for six points, two from hook around shots and one from a jump shot in the corner. Ryan McIlvenna shot a tough lay-up and took the free shot as he drew the foul going hard to the hoop but the visitors opened a significant gap of 14-23 at the close of the quarter.

The second phase was not much better for the out of rhythm Blackstone team.

Aaron Brown went to the basket on the break to draw the foul twice and this gave his team four points from the free throw line. The arrival of Shane Craig in the centre of the Blackstone defence gave them size and rebounding in the key for the first time in the game and he added six points at the other end to close the gap to 27–37.

After a series of unforced errors on offence the Blackstone subbed in Mark Connelly and he shot two threes from the corner and gave his team a lift in the closing seconds of the quarter but they still trailed 31–41.

The third quarter was a fast pressing quarter for the home team as they put together a solid trapping defence on the full court, outscoring the visitors 34–17 in this phase and set up the closing quarter for an exciting finish.

Michael McDonald playing at the high post turned to shoot two without reply and from this the Blackstone press was sprung. Cassley stole and then Hillis and McIlvenna all got turnovers and went in to score leaving the deficit at 43–48.

McIlvenna shot a three pointer and as the pressure unfolded the Wolves turned the ball time after time and Brown and McDonald with four points from set play and McIlvenna with four points on the free throw line as the nippy guard penetrated to draw the fouls and convert the shots to put his team into a 65–58 lead at the close of the quarter.

The fourth quarter saw the Blackstone give up that lead as the pace of their game dropped considerably. Blackstone struggled to make their scores until the starting five returned to the court now trailing 65–70.

Hillis was quickly in action going through a tight gap to score two then Brown drove on the break to set in on the right side.

McIlvenna popped in two points from the left and then skipped his way to the basket through the Ards defence to score but the visitors had found a weakness in the lack of height on the floor for the Blackstone as they exploited this in the closing minutes to win the game.

UNDER-19 LEAGUE

North Star 70, Blackstone 58: Blackstone U-19s came cold to this game and this was reflected in a very poor first quarter. They struggled to make scores throughout and hit only five points to North Star’s 20.

In the second phase of play the visitors got their game together. Passing was sharp against the press and they cut the Star defence to shreds. Dean Hillis shot 15 points in the quarter - four from the three-point line - lifting his team to a 33 each turn around at the half.

In the third quarter the Derry team’s superior height paid as they picked up too many offensive rebounds.

Michael McDonald and Michael Murray got their shooting going inside and outside the key to draw the teams level at 47 each but the gap was opened on the three point line as Stanley hit twice from the top of the key.

In the fourth quarter the Blackstone struggled with their offence. Impatience and poor shot selection gave the home team the opportunity to open a 12 point gap which they retained to the end.