Cash squeeze to hit hoops hopes

IRISH basketball is in danger of wasting a stellar generation of young players by pulling the financial plug on the country’s senior men’s and women’s squads, one of the sport’s leading coaches has warned.

Glanmire head coach Mark Scannell believes it could be years before Basketball Ireland reactivates its Senior Men’s and Women’s teams; something he said could land the sport “in the height of trouble”.

“It’s very unfortunate because what’s going to happen is we’re going to lose out on all the players that are there now, and that’s a seriously good generation of players. It’s going to be a big problem in the short term, I feel,” said Scannell.

The decision to cease funding teams on the back of a €1.2 million debt in February came as a major setback, particularly as the Irish women’s team – coached by Scannell – came extremely close to promotion to the A division, the top tier of European basketball, last season.

It’s something he admits badly needs redress or numbers in the sport will drop.

“That’s what set us apart from the GAA in that you can play for your country but we’re going to lose that and that’s my fear for the sport because if you look at it; what does basketball give you that GAA can’t? It’s fantastic for girls playing camogie and ladies football but the one thing about basketball is you can represent your country and it’s a big pull factor. Hopefully we won’t be out for too long, I think the lads in there at the moment have gotten to the bottom of it, I think we’re nearly at rock bottom but we’ll have to rebuild.”

Scannell was in his home city yesterday to accept the Boardwalk Bar and Grill award as Sportsperson of the month for March after leading his club to their third National Cup Final as well as the Women’s Superleague title this year.

Since joining the club in 2005 Scannell has amassed a total of 14 National titles from U18 to Senior level and believes he’s witnessed some of the greatest home-grown players to ever grace the game, (including his own daughter Jessica, currently on Scholarship in the US).

“When they write about basketball in years to come, I’d say five or six of the players I’ve coached will be ‘in the conversation’ as regards who’s the best player in each position. Most of the traditionally strong teams, Lee Road, Blarney, Wildcats, lasted for maybe two or three years and they faded away but we’re doing it in such a way in Glanmire that the club will always be paramount and as well as that we’ve put an emphasis on the underage structure. We mightn’t be winning national titles every year but we’ll certainly keep competing at national level and that’s the key.”

Meanwhile the sport was deeply saddened to learn of the death of 33-year-old Stuart Robbins who died suddenly at the weekend while playing in the intervarsity’s as a member of the UL Eagles team. A memorial service was held in his honour at Milford Church, Castletroy last night while a book of condolences has been opened in the atrium of the UL Arena.