European Basketball Qualifier - Senior Men - Division B -
Group C
Luxembourg 70 (34) (T Schumacher 26, P Rajniak 12, F Muller 11) Ireland 97 (57) (I O'Boyle 19, D McGrath 18, C Grace 14, J Larranaga 14)
Ireland gave Head Coach Jay Larranaga his first win since he took the reigns in spectacular fashion with a resounding 97-70 win over Luxembourg.
Larranaga’s charges opened their European campaign with defeats to Sweden and Georgia but bounced back in emphatic fashion in Luxembourg on Saturday night.
A Colin O’Reilly jump shot followed by baskets from Damian Matacz, Conor Grace and another jumper from O’Reilly fired Ireland into an early 8-2 advantage. Chris Bracey continued the positive start for the visitor’s with a lay-up before Justen Naughton provided further points.
But Luxembourg’s Martin Rajniak hit an impressive three pointer to keep the home side’s hopes alive and help close the gap to just five points.
The home crowd’s confidence rose when Tom Schumacher hit two threes in quick succession to restore parity but player/coach Larranaga and Ian O’Boyle responded with two threes apiece to help Ireland to a blistering finish to the first quarter and a 33-21 lead.
Ireland’s fine display continued at the beginning of the second quarter with Larranaga adding two more threes to give his side a healthy 20 point advantage.
Peter Rajniak provided some respite for Luxembourg with a lay-up but Ireland continued to pile on the pressure through Bracey and Donnie McGrath who helped stretch the lead to a massive 30 points.
Schumacher and Olivier Haan put a more respectable look on the scoreline but Ireland were still holding a huge lead at the interval (57-34).
Ireland provided no let up in the third quarter with further threes put on the board byMcGrath and O’Boyle. Three point specialist O’Boyle was tormenting the Luxembourg defence and another three inspired Ireland to an 80-51 lead at the end of the third.
Schumacher and Peter Rajniak were doing their best to thwart the onslaught but Ireland were in complete control as they prepared for the final quarter.
It was Luxembourg who started the final quarter brightly with a morale boosting three but O’Boyle notched his 16th point with a similar score to leave Ireland 84-57 ahead.
Thierry Abdiu and Bob Kieffer hit two lay-up’s to continue a much brighter period for the home side but an Emmet Donnelly lay-up and a further five points from McGrath ensured no late slip-up from Ireland.
Schumacher hit his 26th point of the night in the closing stages from the free throw line but it proved too little too late as Ireland romped to an 97-70 success.
Ireland’s final game in Division B Group C takes place next Saturday, 20 September when they host Slovakia at the National Basketball Arena, Tallaght at the rescheduled time of 15:30.
Basketball Ireland are offering school/club groups free entry if they wear green to the game.
School/club groups must contact Basketball Ireland on (01) 4590211 in advance of the game to book their free places.
