Double trouble for Ireland senior teams

THERE was little joy for Irish basketball at the weekend, with the national senior teams slumping to defeats in European Championship qualifiers.

The men were hammered 81-62 by Romania at the National Basketball Arena while the women lost away to Norway, 72-62.

The defeat by the Romanians, a week after a two point loss to Switzerland, means victory against Cyprus next weekend is vital if Ireland are to maintain hopes of the Division A action next season.

Ireland’s top scorer Jay Larranaga pinpointed the reasons for the home side’s downfall.

“Romania played more aggressively than us and we just weren’t up for the challenge today. We don’t quit though and we did the best we could today but it just wasn’t enough”.

Larranaga was superb throughout, hitting 24 points — including six three pointers — but he could do little to halt the Romanian onslaught.

Point guard George Paul Helcioiu, Bogdan Popescu and Catalin Buracu were devastating in the opening half. Despite the best efforts of Larranaga and Pat Burke, Ireland trailed by 20 points, 45-25) at the interval.

The visitors maintained their intensity in the third quarter with Stanescu, Burlacu and Kalala opening up a 30 points gap, 56-26.

Larranaga and Marty Conlon led the Ireland comeback and managed to cut the deficit to 24 points, 65-41, at the end of the third. Conlon, Larranaga and Chris Bracey all clocked up three pointers in a desperate effort to close the gap in the final quarter. Ireland outscored Romania 21-16 in this period but their efforts were very much too little, too late.

Captain Conlon admitted: “We are just not going to win games at this level with just 62 points, that’s just not going to do it. Offensively we have got to do better”.

In Bergen, poor free throw conversion cost Maeve Coleman’s side dearly — the visitors netting just six out of a possible 20 points.

In the first quarter, Lindsay Peat and Suzanne Maguire led the Irish charge and they trailed by six points at the break, 22-16. Peat, Maguire and Marie Guiney had the sides level within minutes of the restart before Norway pulled clear. But Ireland rallied again and baskets from Ann Marie Healy and Kate Maher had them 38-37 behind at the start of the third quarter.

Jillian Aherne and Niamh Dwyer were inspirational in this period and Ireland led 44-47 going into a dramatic final quarter.

Dwyer’s free throw edged the Irish four points ahead but Norway’s Austunglen, Taddersdill, Hella and Brekke pulled the hosts clear. Kristiansen added two free throws on the buzzer for a ten point winning margin.

Top Scorers (Men): Ireland: J Larranaga (24); C Bracey (14); M Conlon (11) Romania: G Paul Helcioiu (22); C Burlacy (17); V Stanescu (16).

Top Scorers (Women): Ireland: N Dwyer (12); L Peat (10); M Guiney (10). Norway: K. Tattersdill (15); N. Sand (13); B. Engen (8).