Hoops lost out to National Event Hire Neptune on a scoreline of 76 to 84 in a preview of next week’s quarter-final in an exciting game in the Greendale Arena last weekend.
National Event Hire Neptune won the battle on last Saturday night against Hoops of Dublin, but now prepare for the war in this week’s National Cup quarter final against the same opposition. NEH Neptune now armed with the win know that next week’s game will be a different task, Pat Price believes the result won’t have much of a bearing at the Arena next weekend, ” it should be another cracker of a game” he said, “we can definitely take the knowledge we have gained from this win but it’s an entirely different contest next weekend, I am extremely pleased with how the team are gelling. There is a tremendous team spirit.”
The first quarter was basket for basket with Ger Noonan and Ian McLoughlin featuring for the visitors. Phil Taylor and Jason Goldrick led the line for the Hoops as the Americans for both sides were relatively quiet with four points apiece. NEH Neptune took control in the second as Juwann James settled adding six to his tally. Hoops were missing simple lay-ups and Stephen Sheehan and Michael McGinn added “threes” for the visitors and they led 40 points to 28 at break.
Hoops fought back in the third. Phil Taylor hit two “threes”; Namanja Vukanic and Carlton Aaron added two baskets each to close the gap to three with two minutes to go in the quarter. A head injury to Aaron forced him to sit out the remainder of the quarter and Neptune re-established their lead. The sides traded baskets in the fourth but a brace of “threes” from Taylor lifted the crowd and reduced the gap to five with just over a minute to go. Hoops had to stop the clock but NEH Neptune held their nerve at the foul line with Gary Walsh, Juwann James and Ronan O’Sullivan all nailing their free throws to seal a deserved victory for the Cork side.National Event Hire Neptune now prepare for an important cup game at the National Basketball Arena next Saturday night the 5th Dec.
