February 16, 2011
By Staff Reporter
By Mark Jones
DUBLIN — Ireland’s hopes of qualifying for next year’s European Championship basketball finals took a major hit last weekend when they were comprehensively beaten, 74-59, by Bosnia in Dublin. Apart from a short spell early on, the Irish were always struggling and in the end could manage only five three-pointers to the winners’ 11.
Without three starters, and with Jay Larranga in uncharacteristically poor form, Ireland were in deep trouble when they trailed by 40-26 at halftime. “We were beaten badly on the boards,” admitted coach, Bill Dooley. “Bosnia’s size and strength hurt us.”
Meanwhile, Limerick won the men’s National Cup with a 89-83 victory over Star of the Sea, Belfast, although the MVP award went to Marvyn Dixon, who shot 35 points and 12 rebounds in a magnificent individual display.
Killester of Dublin won the women’s title for the first time with a 78-66 success against University of Limerick in the final. Emma Pierce was the key player for the winners with 25 points, including seven three-pointers.
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