Portlaoise Panthers, Templeogue BC and Kestrels reign supreme in AIG U16 Boys AICC's

Three new champions were crowned at the AIG U16 Boys All-Ireland Club Championships in Gormanston, as Portlaoise Panthers, Templeogue BC and Kestrels BC hoisted silverware at the end of two fantastic days of basketball in Co. Meath. 

Portlaoise Panthers - 'A' Division

Templeogue BC - 'B' Division 

Kestrels BC - 'C' Division

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An unbeaten run through a tough Group 5 containing St. Mary's Castleisland, Carlow BC and Phoenix BC highlighted Portlaoise Panthers as strong contenders for the 'A' Division crown heading into day two on Sunday. A 47-36 success against St. Mary's Castleisland put a marker down early, while Sochima Omuorah, Evan Brannagan and Noah Barbour all took turns to lead the way throughout group phase play. 

A second half comeback anchored by Onuorah and Giovanni Osadolor, who combined for 18 points, lifted Panthers to a 42-30 quarter-final win over rivals Éanna BC to set up a last four clash against Belfast Star. This time it was a first quarter blitz, which saw Portlaoise establish a commanding 22-7 lead that they would never relinquish in a 62-45 win. Again Onuorah and Brannagan were to the fore, along with Prince Iheme who added 11 points to the boxscore.  

Semi-finalists from a year ago, Titans BC were Portlaoise Panthers opponents in the 'A' division final and again it was the Laois side who held their nerve at crucial points. A 22-8 run in the second and third quarter seald the title, as Titans were unable to find a solution for Iheme and Brannagan's ability to attack the basket. The Galway outfit did rally in the fourth quatrer, Sam Hresko hit three shots from beyond the arc and Einaras Miltinis added six points, but it wasn't enough to claw back the deficit and Portlaoise Panthers ran out 44-35 winners at the buzzer. 

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Templeogue's solitary defeat of a weekend run to the 'B' division title would come in their opening game of the tournament against Belfast Star, some strong outside shooting from Dylan Hughes handing star a 37-32 success despite a 15-point performance from guard Conor Murray for the team in red. 

It was Jamie Connor's turn to go off in their second game, a 38-27 win over St. Brendan's. Connor struck three, three-point shots, as well as six baskets inside and a perfect 100% (2/2) from the free-throw line to amass 23 points at the close of play, with 15 of those coming in the second half. A 90-27 win in their final group game against Ballinamore Blazers sent them home from day one with a last eight matchup against St. Mary's Castleisland to look forward to. 

The dominant performances from the red army continued into day two. Connor was the hot hand once more in a 56-26 success over St. Mary's Castleisland on Sunday morning. Harry Clarke and Hassimou Bah also proved pivotal, adding a combined 16 points to the total. The Dubliners faced a familiar foe at the semi-final stage in the form of St. Brendan's, who had overcome Cavan Lakers to set up the rematch - but once again it was Templeogue who would come out on top 50-36, following a strong opening two both halves that saw them outcscore their opponents 32-13 in that time.

The final against Limerick Celtics was a see-saw affair, until Jamie Connor decided to call game at the outset of the third quarter. Having hit a shot to put his side 31-29 up at the interval, Connor came out of the break to score 14-points in the quarter, in a game where he would end with an astonishing 39 point total. Celtics did their best to keep up through Luke Moran, who had 25 points, Domas Kasparavicus and Alan Twardowski, but they couldn't find any answers to slowing down Connor and when Connor did decide to take a break, Hassmiou Bah kept the scoreboard ticking in his absence, notching 18 points of his own in the 62-51 win. 

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Darragh and Eoghan O'Loughlin hit 40-points in Kestrels 48-31 win over Carlow BC in the 'C' division final on Sunday. Denis Ribinskis and Ross Egan were also on form in response for Carlow, but the O'Loughlin's ability beneath both baskets ultimately proved key for the Portarlington club. 

It put the icing on a fantastic set of performances in the knockout rounds which saw Kestrels defeat Mulroy Hoops 49-41 and Castlebar Comets 42-17 en-route to the final. A duo of tight contests typified Carlow BC's run to the decider. Egan and Darragh Williamson go them over the line in a 36-31 win against Phoenix BC, while Ribinskis, Egan and Ben Nolan were instrumental in a 37-29 win over a strong Longford Phoenix crew at the semi-final stage.