Blackstone are Star turns in Belfast

The Ballymena lads are keeping their best for the closing quarter and showed determination and composure in the closing spell of a nail biting game.

With a high intensity defensive second half and some key scores at the right time the Blackstone have come through their last two games to secure victory.

In the opening quarter it was all Star as Blackstone struggled to get to the pace and were frequently flat footed as the Star transition game just blew past them allowing for a series of easy scores.

Blackstone were missing key rebounder Peter McNicholl for the opening phase of the game and this allowed the Belfast team a lot of second phase play taking too many rebounds.

They capitalised on this to open a 23-12 with the Blackstone relying on scores from the perimeter as they struggled to get through a physical Star defence.

Adam Murray set the tone for his game going tough to set in 4 points and Chris Pangan shot three and went full length to score giving his team a lift.

In the second quarter the Blackstone found their rhythm but the gap did not close as both teams went basket for basket.

Good patterns emerged in attack as they freed up both McDonalds, Michael and Martin, and Adam Murray for three pointers.

In the key Paul Gillan took the knocks for the Blackstone and combined with Michael Murray to secure the boards for the first time in the game. Sean McMahon coming off the bench shot 4 points getting open from screens then penetrating the key to leave the score at 40–28.

Gillan slotted 4 points more points to keep the gap at 13 points but Burns and Johnstone were still getting too much room to make scores in the Blackstone key against their zone defence.

The second half saw the Blackstone press full court and go man to man in the half court.

The Star offence was broken up on many occasions allowing for breaking scores from Pangan, Murray and McDonald. McMahon shot 4 from the top of the key and the game was on the turn as the gap closed.

Martin McDonald shot a three pointer and Murray penetrated to shoot two and give the Blackstone a 56–58 lead for the first time in the game.

The fourth quarter saw Peter McNicholl enter the game for the first time and had a big impact on the boards at both ends.

Michael Murray sent Blackstone ahead with a hook on the post and his brother Adam penetrated to shoot in close and give Blackstone a 58–62 lead.

Burns for Star made the game level as he opened twice for the score but Martin McDonald hit a three and then went to the basket to score and leave the visitors up 62–67.

Then the Blackpool lad, Pangan came up with a three pointer and a backdoor lay up to open a 5 point gap for the Blackstone. Star was resilient and tied the game at 72 each.

The Blackstone defence was tough with Murray and McNicholl resilient on the boards and all the guards playing very tight and tough. They denied Star a score on three occasions then Murray penetrated twice to score on the pull up jump shot and Martin McDonald went to the free throw line too win the game for the Blackstone with one from two.

ULSTER DIVISION ONE

Blackstone II 51, Strabane 60: This was a game that got away from Blackstone who had a comfortable 10 point lead until mid way through the third quarter.

Coach McKee was surprised in the opening half as his team were solid in defence giving the visitors few chances. Michael McDonald hit three 3 pointers in this opening quarter after some very good movement of the ball against the Strabane zone defence. Dean Hillis shot two on the break and Paul Gillan banked a three pointer to open a 19–15 lead.

The second quarter was a similar pattern of play for both teams as Gillan and Barry McCormick shot 9 points in threes for the Blackstone.

Blackstone were quicker up the floor and rebounds from Craig set Gillan and McMahon in for scores on the break to give a half time lead 32–24

In the third Blackstone lost their rhythm which they did not regain until the closing 5 minutes and by then Strabane were 10 points ahead.

Two factors turned this game. The experience and aggression of the visitors and a lack of control for the Blackstone against the pressing man to man of Strabane gave this game up. With point guard Harry McGarry absent through work commitments the young Blackstone team could not find anyone to steer them through the pressure.

With a meagre 6 points in the third Strabane pushed ahead shooting 19 points from all positions inside and outside the key.

When discipline and set team offence were required the Blackstone players went for the wrong options and Strabane controlled the game to the end.