North Star continue to shine

North Star Basketball team claim a home victory over Kilkeel Knights by 85-77 at Bishop’s Field last weekend.

North Star Basketball team claim a home victory over Kilkeel Knights by 85-77 at Bishop’s Field last weekend.

The city’s only senior basketbetball club remain unbeaten at home winning all five ties. North Star moved up to fifth place in the Northern Ireland Basketball (NIB) Premier League and have a game in hand. Last weekends win over second placed Knights has bolstered their chances to reach the play-offs.

Only four points separate the top five places and North Star are up there fighting for the title. With only seven fixtures to go the title ambition can be achieved. Star’s player coach Niall McDermott said: “We are in a great position. Our home performances have been outstanding. At the start of the season we aimed for a top four finish and we are well on course for that.”

North Star travel to Jordanstown tonight for their game against the Ulster Elks. The students sit in position and it will be a tough place to get a win. Coach McDermott said: “It is a tough away game on next up at Ulster Elks. They have the best record in the league but we are in good form so it should be a good game.”

In what proved to be a tight affair last weekend North Star continue to get better as the season progresses. The lead changed in each quarter with the Knights winning the first quarter but the Star played briliantly in the second quarter to gain a half-time lead of 38-33. Both Daryl Harkin and Kevin Stanley were impressive in the second quarter scoring nine points each with a fantastic three pointer from Stanley. Niall McDermott also scored his usual three pointer.

In the third period Knights managed to outscore the home team but Kevin Stanley added to his fantastic individual tally of 20, scoring eight along with team mate Anthony Tench.

North Star finished in a much stronger fashion to seal another home victory. Teenage sensation Paul McGuinness scored an amazing 16 points with 11 coming from rebounds.

North Star are Londonderry’s sole representatives in senior basketball. They have two senior clubs, Firsts and Seconds. Both teams compete in the NIB Premier and Second Division leagues respectively. The first team will celebrate its tenth anniversary this year. Founded in 2002 by locals enthusisats North Star began in a very modest fashion.

Senior coach Niall McDermott has been involved from the very start. He told the Sentinel: “A group of us from St Columb’s College got together to form a team. We had an idea to create a team to represent Derry as the nearest basketball club was in Strabane.

“We began life as Derry City Basketball Club but changed our name after the first season to North Star. We decided on this name because that was the name of the team in the 70’s.”

Basketball in the city has its origins in the American base in the Waterside. It was the American military personnel that brought the popular indoor game to prominence. They first used the name ‘North Star’ and competed throughout Ireland in structured leagues and competitions. When the base ceased operations and closed down in 1977 the basketball team also left Londonderry.

A revival by locals in the late 80’s was sustained until the mid 90’s but once again interest waned and Londonderry were without a team.

Those inspired by coaching sessions at St Columb’s College reinstated the game at a competitive level. Colm O’Neill, currently Derry City FC’s physio, was the first coach of the present day team. Together with Conor Friel, Gary Campbell, Ciaran Stevenson, Emmett Harkin and current coach Niall McDermott created North Star.

They began life in Division 1 of the Northern Ireland League and were promoted in their first season to the Premier League where they have remained.

The team has enjoyed some success and has increased its appeal to the Londonderry sporting public. North Star began a ‘seconds’ team. They play in the NIB Division 2 and are two points clear at the top.

Noth Star’s success can be attributed to the outside coaching sessions held at various primary schools and secondary schools throughout Londonderry.

From humble beginings of one senior team North Star now boast two mens senior teams and six junior clubs. They have an Under-18 Girls team and are looking to add to this. North Star want to create Under-13 and Under-14 girls teams and are begining an eight week coaching programme this weekend.

Girls from St Ceceila’s College, St Mary’s College and Oakgrove College will attend these free coaching sessions which will hopefully end with the creation of the new girls teams.

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