Blue Demons U16A boys gave it their best shot over the weekend in the U16A AICC. The AICC are a straight knock competition so the pressure was on from the start early on Saturday morning. Demons played Titans of Galway in their first pool game and won 54-28 after a very good performance. In the second game. we played a very talented Port Laoise Panthers outfit who lead after a tense first quarter (14-12). A late spurt in the second quarter from our lads with some very important free throws had Demons in the lead 32-25 at half time. Demons came out all guns blazing in the 3rd quarter with some excellent outside shooting to extend their lead to 51-34. Demons won out on a score line of 63-55 to win their pool and qualify for the final 4.
In the semi finals on Sunday morning, Demons played a talented Belfast Star who were ahead 9-3 at the end of the 1st quarter with nothing dropping to the basket for our lads. Demons improved their scoring in the 2nd quarter but defences on both sides were on top in a low scoring game as Star lead 18-12 at half time. Despite Demons best efforts, Star hit some big shots when it mattered to lead 28-21 at the end of the 3rd and despite our best efforts in the 4th quarter, Star ran out winners on a score line of 39-27. It was a very tough loss for our lads after playing so well on Saturday.
In the 3rd/4th place play off, we played Gneeguilla of Kerry and Demons were never behind (17-8 1st), 22-9 up at half time, 29-29 end of the 3rd but Demons pushed out the lead again in the 4th quarter to win 46-36 to finish in 3rd place.
Disappointing not to have won the AICC for all involved after all their efforts throughout the season, but I know our lads under the expert coaching of Dave and Dee will come back fighting in their CCB Top 4 semi final on Tuesday night @ 7:30 in the Parochial Hall as they look to win their 4th trophy of the season.
Thanks to everybody who came out to support the team over the weekend.