The Team NI U17 Boys took on the Wales U17 Boys this weekend in a demanding two-game series at the Celtic Invitational, held at Ulster University, Jordanstown. Over the course of the weekend, the young NI squad faced a formidable Welsh team in what proved to be a weekend of intense basketball and valuable learning experiences.
Saturday’s Close Encounter
The first game on Saturday was a fiercely competitive affair. Both teams displayed high levels of intensity from the start, with the lead constantly shifting throughout the first half. At halftime, Wales held a slight advantage, leading 44-39.
The second half saw Wales gradually gain control, capitalising on key moments and forcing turnovers that allowed them to widen the gap. Despite Team NI’s best efforts to keep the game within reach, the final score was 90-77 in favour of Wales. The Team NI boys showed great spirit but were unable to close the gap in the final stages.
Sunday – A Hard-Fought Battle
Sunday’s rematch offered Team NI a chance to regroup and challenge Wales once more. However, the game started similarly to Saturday’s, with Wales taking an early lead. By halftime, Team NI found themselves down 42-20, facing a significant challenge in the second half.
The third period saw a determined effort from Team NI, who managed to cut into Wales’ lead, bringing the score to 58-37. The boys continued to battle through the fourth quarter, playing with heart and resilience. However, the gap proved too large to overcome, and the final score was 72-53 in favour of Wales.
Despite the losses, the Team NI U17 Boys can hold their heads high after a weekend of hard-fought basketball. They faced a well polished Welsh team and demonstrated growth and potential throughout both games. The experience gained from these intense matches will undoubtedly be valuable as they continue to develop and prepare for future competitions.
The Celtic Invitational has provided Team NI with an opportunity to test their skills against strong opposition, and the lessons learned will serve them well as they continue through the Team NI performance pathway. Although results didn’t go in their favour, the effort and determination displayed by the team are commendable and a positive sign for the future.
Congratulations to Team NI’s #9 Eoin Holman for earning the MVP Award over the weekend, as selected by the Welsh coaches, and to Wales’ #9 Luca Basini James for receiving the Wales Team MVP Award picked by Team NI coaches.
Thank you to UUJ for the hospitality, our Table Officials, three referees (Kieran, Tom and Rebecca), parents, supporters and BNI board and staff who all play crucial roles in ensuring weekends like these are a success.
WEEKEND STATS:
GAME 1: Team NI 77-90 Wales
Quarters: 24-18, 15-26, 18-17, 20-29
Team NI: Eric Zadorozny (BC Wolves) 18, Paddy Mulligan (Blackwater Steelers) 15, Eoin Holman 11, Dan McGrattan (Star) 8, Cailean Lavery (Star) 8, James McKeown (Star) 5, Alex McVicar (Steelers), Keelan McEntee (Newry Fliers) 4, Cormac Treanor (UU Tigers), Mikey McLoughlin (Letterkenny Blaze) 1, Daire O’Gorman, Lewis McCotter (Star)
Top Scorer Wales: Luca Bassini-James 38
GAME 2: Team NI 53-72 Wales
Quarters: 11-19, 9-23, 17-16, 16-14
Team NI: Paddy Mulligan 10, Dan McGrattan 10, Sean Smyth (Blackwater Steelers) 9, Eric Zadorozny 7, Daire O’Gorman 5, Eoin Holman 4, Keelan McEntee 4, Cormac Treanor 2, James McKeown 2 Alex McVicar, Mikey McLaughlin, Lewis McCotter
Top Scorer Wales: Boyl Bakrachev 12
Photography by Jim Corr.
