The Titans u20’s made the long journey to and from Belfast with 8 players to take on one of the strongest u20 sides on the Island of Ireland Star-Belfst.Boasting two 6’7″ inside men and the two highest scoring International shooting guards in the country..The Quinn Twins!
Titans however..Came to play!..and brought it to the locals at every aspect of the game.The bustely Argentinian point guard contrlled the game in the main,playing in the faces of the twins on Dee, but reaching in for the occassional foul..(a fact that was to come back and haunt the visitors late on).Gerald Echefu boxed out the big boys on the defensive end and pulled down major boards.On the offensive end Oliie Brockmann the german hit some big threes early on and drove the Star basket at will, amassing a 20 point tally in the process.The Titans led the first quarter by 6 (24-18).
In the second quarter, Seamus Garrity,played his commander in chief role ,controlling the offensive end to create hoops for his teammates. Robertus Kinurias , Brockmann,Tomz, Latauro and Garrity all stepped up to the plate and nailed big three pointers.The Titans werre up 50-37 at the half.
However in the third quarter,Star came out all guns blazing and outscored the Titans 23-9 in this quarter, with the bigmen pinning their Shorter Titans counterparts to finish strong on the inside..the Titans had gone cold at the business end for a ten minute spell and were down one point at the end of the third(60-59);
Despite their wayning energy levels, sleep deprivation and this onslaught..the Titans Spirit was unwavering!Though the Titans went down a further 10 points yet in the middle of the fourth, Seamus Garrity brought the game up a few gears,weaving,diving..creating.Tomz,Gerald, Eric Moore and Robertus responded, dug deep and showed their national league experience and with two minutes to go there was only three points between the teams.Tomz fabricius hit big shots,Echefu and Brockmann drove the lanes and the Titans were back in it.On the next defense the Titans were Herculian and with nothing left on the shot clock, Star chucked up a holymary,miss..but their bigman gets the ball for a putback.down the stretch,the sheer bulk and size of the Star finished the game as a contest and the Titans lose by 10pts.Final Score Star Belfast 84,Titans Galway 74.We’d just like to congratulate the boys for representing the county so well and leving nothing on the sidelines..Congratulations Boys!
In the other semifinal,Templeogue,who had beaten Maree earlier in the earlier rounds demolished ucc Demons 94-40.