IT Sligo qualify for All Ireland semi- final
ON Tuesday It Sligo men travelled to play DIT at The Swan Leisure Centre in Rathmines, for our final league game of the season. Sligo needed to win to finish as one of the top two teams in the conference and qualify for the All- Ireland semi- finals. While DIT were looking for revenge after losing last year’s Div. 3 final to IT Sligo.
The Dublin team had a full squad of players to choose from, while Sligo had only travelled with eight players.
Sligo started the 1st quarter brightly, with some good work inside from Evan Broderick and Capt. Finnbarr Murphy, while Philip Hamilton and Patrick Reid were creating spaces and chances for their team- mates.
DIT were struggling to find the net on their home court and gave away some sloppy turn overs in the early stages of the game. Sligo took advantage with Tobi Brockmann breaking down the court on several occasions for easy lay- ups. The 1st quarter ended with Sligo leading 8- 18.
DIT started the 2nd quarter with much more intensity and desire, pressing the ball further up the court which unsettled Sligo’s build- up play. The introduction of Mateusz Harcej for DIT had a big impact on the game. They quickly ate into Sligo’s lead and narrowed the gap to just two points after three minutes.
Sligo’s Philip Hamilton picked up two personal fouls in quick succession and came off for Ah Yit, while Finnbarr Murphy tweaked his ankle and had to be subbed off for Dillon Duffy. Sligo’s only scoring outlet was Tobi Brockmann who kept his team ahead despite substantial pressure from the Dublin defense.
With the game in the balance Hamilton came back in for Sligo and a strong finish to the half saw him score 8 points in a row, half time score had Sligo still leading 34- 38.
The second half began with Sligo bringing back in Finnbarr Murphy to shore up the centre. DIT continued to double team Tobi Brockmann which did stop the Sligo shooter putting up a big score but the extra space on the court meant that Sligo’s Patrick Reid and Evan Broderick were able to punish the Dublin team.
As DIT tried to stop the outside scoring threat of Tobi Brockmann, Philip Hamilton continued to drive at the DIT basket, scoring 8pts and creating as many again for his team mates.
Foul trouble meant Sligo had to use their bench but the introduction of Dillon Duffy and Senan Murphy meant DIT did not get to the basket as easily as they had in the 2nd quarter.
Sligo ended the 3rd quarter five points ahead thanks to a three pointer from Tobi Brockmann and two points from Dillon Duffy.
Sligo continued with the two big men of Murphy and Duffy under the boards for the last Quarter, their physical presence meant Sligo were winning the re- bound battle at both ends of the court with Finnbarr Murphy getting 8points off rebounds alone.
With Philip Hamilton and Evan Broderick continuing to drive at DIT, their defense was forced to drop deeper which opened up space for Brockmann and Pat Reid to put up shots from outside. Jericho Bibat and Mateusz Harcej were the main scoring threat for DIT but they couldn’t match the free scoring Sligo team who rounded off the scoring with a late fast break from Senan Murphy.
The game ended 74- 86 in favour of Sligo. Tobi Brockmann was the top scorer for Sligo with 38pts, Philip Hamilton scored 21pts and Finnbarr Murphy had 13pts.
The win meant Sligo were guaranteed to finish as one of the top two teams in the conference and qualify for an All- Ireland semi- final slot
However a shock win for Waterford IT over, conference favourites, Dublin Business School on Thursday meant IT Sligo finished top of the Southern Conference. As Conference winners IT Sligo will host Maynooth on the 1st March in the Knocknarea Arena. IT SLIGO 87 - 64 Waterford IT
Men’s College basketball returned to the Knocknarea area last Wednesday recently with IT Sligo hosting Waterford I. T. in the Division 2 Southern Conference clash.
Sligo were looking to bounce back after a narrow defeat to table topping Dublin Business School in their last home game.
The hosts were without the influential Brian Monaghan and Alex Savage. While Waterford who had won their previous two games in the conference had travelled with eight players.
IT Sligo, started with Finnbarr Murphy ( Captain), Tobi Brockmann, Philip Hamilton, Evan Broderick and Patrick Reid. Waterford’s starting five was Jack Dooley ( Captain), Cian O’Rourke, Dusan Rabat, Andrew Semple and Ryan Pepper.
Sligo built an early lead going 10- 2 up in the first two minutes and sustained the pressure for most of the quarter.
However Sligo’s lack of discipline on defence allowed WIT get five points from the free throw line, to bring the score back to 18- 10. Sligo answered back with Tobi Brockmann putting up a 3 pointer before his brother Oliver converted a strong drive to the basket to end the quarter 23- 10.
Izzy Malonda came in at the start of the second quarter for Evan Broderick, who had gotten into foul trouble, his speed and athleticism caused immediate problems for WIT as he got two baskets in quick succession.
Waterford started to pull them- selves back into the game with Ryan Pepper finally getting his shots to drop and some smart inside play from Jack Dooley saw them eat into Sligo’s lead.
Midway through the second quarter Sligo’s lead was down to 5 points, when they switched to a more aggressive press with the front three of Philip Hamilton, Izzy Malonda and Tobi Brockmann really shutting down the Waterford attack.
Finnbarr Murphy, playing at centre, was pulling down big defensive rebounds allowing Sligo to run the ball quickly up the court. Tobi Brockmann was a constant threat with his outside shooting, but the interplay of Philip Hamilton and Izzy Malonda off Finnbarr Murphy’s screens was causing Waterford all sorts of problems. The half- time whistle came with Sligo leading 47- 29.
The two teams continued to exchange scores in the second half with Sligo able to rotate their bench and rest their starting five. The 6’ 6” Jason Campbell came in for Murphy and the Kilcar native dominated the defensive rebounds.
Sligo then brought on Oliver Brockmann, Yang Yit Chan, Dillon Duffy, and Senan Murphy with Jason Campbell and dropped back into a zone defence.
Waterford were restricted to a few outside shots from Dusan Rabat and Ryan Pepper but had very little joy against the physical presence of Sligo’s big men inside. The third quarter ended with Sligo leading 68- 49.
In the fourth quarter, Sligo continued to rotate their players, while Waterford’s lack of options from their bench was really hurting them.
Waterford were tiring and finding it difficult to put shots away but Sligo were finding more space on the court. Tobi and Ollie Brockmann continued to put up shots from outside, when WIT stepped out to stop that threat Philip Hamilton,
Evan Broderick and Izzy Malonda were able to take on their big men inside. Sligo’s final score of the game came when birthday boy Jason Campbell was gifted a lay- up after Yong Yit Chan drove into the middle of the WIT defence and picked out the big man with an inch- perfect pass.
The final score was 87- 64 in favour of Sligo. Sligo’s top scorers were Tobi Brockmann on 35pts, Izzy Malonda on 19pts and Philip Hamilton on 13pts. Waterford’s Jack Dooley had 19pts and Dusan Rabat finished with 16.