A severely depleted Loftus Recycling side scored a magnificent victory over Dublin side Tolka Rovers in the National Basketball League (Division 1 ), in Tolka Sports Centre in Dublin on Saturday night. The Ballina team travelled without several members of the panel due to a combination of injuries and work commitments, but a super performance saw them secure two valuable league points against all odds. Despite some members of the squad arriving on court just before tip-off, having been caught in Croke Park match traffic, Loftus Recycling raced into an early lead with Dara McGarrity firing in three early three-pointers and the game’s top scorer, Peter Papic, adding another three-pointer as well as three two-point baskets and converting two free throws. Tolka appeared shell shocked by the whirlwind start by Ballina which saw them on 23 points at the end of the first quarter while excellent defence by the visitors kept the home side to just 10 points (23:10 ).
Tolka settled in the second period and played some good basketball with Brayden Billbe and Sean Kilmartin each nailing big three-pointers and Jacek Kasprzyk and Brendan O’Rian bagging two baskets each. However Blaise Devaney and McGarrity continued to make blistering runs for Ballina, setting up scoring opportunities for Toafik Mustapha who came into the game more for Ballina, hitting eight points, while Liam McHale, who had earlier replaced his brother Anthony, hit seven points including a big three-point shot. By half time, Ballina had extended their lead to 24 points (48:24 ).
As expected, the Dubliners piled on the pressure in the third period and Ballina veteran, Anthony McHale, who had performed heroically in both defence and offence, found himself on four fouls. The Dubliners hit a string of baskets but concerns that the Mayo men might tire in the face of the onslaught proved unfounded as they continued to battle hard and maintained their composure throughout the court. Papic, McGarrity, and Mustapha all continued to pick off scores for Loftus Recycling but two big three-pointers by Kilmartin at the end of the quarter cut the Ballina lead to 13 at the three-quarter stage (60:47 ).
The final quarter proved to be a real battle of endurance as Tolka did everything in their power to turn the game around. They used their bench to good effect and Dermot Madsen and Billbe, in particular, were causing all sorts of problems for the Mayo men as they hit baskets from all angles. By midway through the final period, the Ballina lead had been cut to just six points and things looked ominous for them. Anthony McHale and Devaney continued to rotate court time until McHale was eventually fouled out with a few minutes left in the game. Devaney proved an able replacement, however, as he worked tirelessly all over the court. Tolka had cut the deficit to just four points (67:63 ) with two and a half minutes left on the clock and Ballina looked to be in big trouble. However the relatively young side Dublin team became somewhat frustrated they tried desperately to get the upper hand and poor discipline cost them dearly in the final minutes as they fouled repeatedly. This suited Ballina perfectly as it slowed the game and broke the Tolka momentum. McHale, McGarrity, and Mustapha all scored from the free throw line and McHale’s experience again proved invaluable in the closing stages as he marshalled his depleted team to hold out for a famous away victory.
