Pope helps Demons to cast out UCD

Mardyke UCC Demons 93 UCD 81

But the fact of the matter is the American action man kept it all together at times when it appeared as if their game would fall apart.

A 12 point winning margin just about reflected the difference between the sides in the second half when the defending champions got it all together after a poor first half that was reflected in the fact that the defending champions managed only one basket from play in the second quarter when they were just about outscored by the visitors 8-10.

Everyone was waiting for Damien Matacz to get going and once he did he shot a couple of quick baskets and suddenly UCD’s better start went for little as Demons took the lead and stretched it to nine points at the end of the first quarter despite being rattled by two big three pointers from Barry Glover that almost shot the lights out.

Things changed for the better after the half-time team talk with coach Pat Price who remained cool throughout the first half.

“Glen (Worley) was struggling a bit but I explained to him that this was a marathon and not a sprint and the second half was going to decide it,” he recalled.

It worked wonders because Worley came out and hit the opposition with a couple of big baskets to steady things as UCD attempted their fight back.

Pope, Shane Coughlan from way out and Brian Clernon added three-pointers but UCD had the run. Two three-pointers from Jones and another from Lorcan Precious, as well as three baskets from Cedric Peoples, saw them cut the deficit to two points.

“We had difficulty getting into third gear and we never got into top gear,” UCD coach Mark Keenan admitted. “But now it appeared as if we had something going. One more basket and we would have drawn level and things might have been different.”

That basket, however, fell to Glen Worley who sent Demons into the final quarter leading 64-60. Worley landed two shots from the line on the resumption, added two baskets from play and, when Matacz hit the opposition with a couple, Worley shot a big three-pointer from way out .

Only Jarron Jones was responding at the other end - a basket, a three-pointer and another basket - as he tried to keep UCD afloat. Lorcan Precious landed two three-pointers but the pace was too much.

“Our guys stepped up when we needed them,” Pat Price pointed out. “Patrick Pope is a special player. He proved that out there today. He can impose himself on the game.

“Damien Matacz is the blue collar worker. He just does so much work all over the place it is amazing.

“It was disappointing for us,” Mark Keenan admitted. “We never got a run going and when it looked that we might they hit us with some big ones. I think David Murphy’s check on Cedric Peoples was a huge turning point just when we appeared to have something going.”

Sixteen points in the third quarter saw Glen Worley come off a slow start to top score for Demons with a total of 28 points while Patrick Pope and Damien Matacz both scored 24 for the champions.

Jarron Jones had the game high of 34 points as he top-scored for UCD with Lorcan Precious on 13 and Cedric Peoples and Neville Charles on 10 apiece.