2024 Right Price Tile Billy Kelly Boys U17 Basketball Tournament
Unfortunately, the tournament started on sad note as attendees at all venues had a minute’s reflection following the sad passing of the Bowden family in Co. Mayo earlier in the week. Understandably this led to Moycullen withdrawing from the competition.
Our Easter Friday morning saw thirty-one teams converging on Cork for the 42nd Edition of the most prestigious Underage Boys Basketball Tournament in Ireland. We saw eight pools playing over the Friday with top two of each pool go on to the last sixteen of the Tournament. while the bottom two in each pool moved on to play in the Billy Kelly Plate Final. Our first English team to play in the Tournament. Southwark Legends from London coached by ex-Blue Demon Player Ben Honan took their chances alongside the cream of Irish underage Basketball and saw them reach the last sixteen of the Cup competition. Following a tough day’s competition across our three venues. Day two of the competition began once again at 9 am with our plate and cup competitions tipping off. We saw some incredibly tight quarter and semi-finals and by lunchtime on Saturday we had the finalist in both our plate, Killester and Athlone and our cup finalists. Attendees in the Parochial Hall were treated to a fantastic warm up to the final with both teams going at it. The lead changed hand numerous times but eventually Killester took the plate trophy back to Dublin.
The final of Billy Tournament found Eanna of Dublin meet Neptune Basketball Club. After an impeccable moments silence for the Bowden family of Moycullen, Eanna started the game with man-to-man defence and R. Bell opened the scoring for Eanna, Dylan O’ Rourke replied in kind, this was countered with another score from Eanna’s Adam Charles. Neptune also matched up man to man and this pressure allowed them to gain an early lead with scores from Denis Brusevics and
Wesley Delaney. Eanna rallied to level the scores with 3 minutes to go in the first quarter. With both teams going into team fouls there was a series of free throws with Eanna taking a two-point lead at the end of first quarter on a scoreline of 18 to 20.
Eanna came out all guns blazing at the start with Adam Charles, Bell and Walsh to the fore, with their strong ball movement and drives to the basket they formed a healthy lead. Sean Noonan, Wesley Delaney and Dylan O’ Rourke kept Neptune close with a number of baskets in the second quarter which ended with a slashing Dylan O’ Rourke drive to bring Neptune to within 11 points with a scoreline of 34 to 45 at the half.
An opening foul from Adam McCarthy from Eanna brought Neptune’s Sean Noonan to the line as they began to try and narrow the gap. Eanna started to put together some lovely passing triangles which also lead to free throw for Eanna to push their lead. Neptune looked to push the tempo by employing a press, but Eanna’s No. 17 replied in return with a fine score. Dylan O’ Rourke and Denis Brusevics with two quick two-point plays could not prevent the third quarter lead being pushed to seventeen points.
The fourth quarter started in a tit for tat patten with Adam McCarthy from Eanna cutting to rim for a lay-up before there was further response from Justin Raheem and Dylan O’ Rourke. The Eanna lead continued to grow however with further scores from McCarthy and Lynch before the tournament M.V.P., Adam Charles asserted his authority on the contest with a spin move and jump shot from near the free throw line and a magnificent block with 30 seconds to go. As the final seconds ticked away and after 78 games over 2 days with thirty-two teams our winners were Eanna on a scoreline 81 points to 59 points. As Eanna capped another weekend of basketball in Cork by bringing the trophy back to the capital we honored our M.V.P Adam Charles, who was the front runner from Friday morning. Adam’s all-round ability and unselfishness on the court saw him stand out from the rest. Joining Adam Charles on the Wheyhey All-star 5 were his clubmate Adam McCarthy, Dylan O’ Rourke (Neptune), Pierce Postma (UCD Marian) and Francek Chmielecki (Dundalk Ravens).
Our thanks again to all the clubs, players, coaches, table officials, referees, and volunteers for their help in making this tournament what it is.