Phoenix BC claim InsureMyHouse.ie U18 Men’s Billy Coffey National Cup

Phoenix BC are the InsureMyHouse.ie U18 Men’s Billy Coffey National Cup champions, beating Joels Dublin Lions 82-80 in a thrilling encounter at the National Basketball Arena on Friday.

It was a slow start from the Belfast outfit, Joels Dublin Lions raced to an early 10-0 lead, with Harry Scully grabbing six of those points. Scully, who’d racked up 44 points in the semi-finals, was looking in ominous form in the opening stages and would have 12 points by the end of the quarter. 

Phoenix steadied themselves, captain Jacob Byrne’s basket saw them within five points, 21-16, with a minute and a half to go in the first and they’d trail 26-18 by the end of the quarter, Byrne with another basket at the death to bring his tally to 10. Byrne would finish with 31 points, on the way to claiming the MVP.

Jacob Byrne, Phoenix BC, and Harry Scully, Joels Dublin Lions, battle for possession during InsureMyHouse.ie U18 Men's Billy Coffey National Cup final 

The second quarter Phoenix BC continued the turnaround, Fointan Rogers had 12 points in it as they got within a point, 40-39 by half-time. 

Joels Dublin Lions were up by seven points, 46-39, after back-to-back threes from Scully and Michael O’Connor in the opening minute of the third quarter. Phoenix reeled them back in, a six point run from Byrne had them 59-55 in front with just under three minutes to go in the quarter. But again it Joels Dublin Lions who’d lead by just a single point at the end of the quarter, thanks to a pair of Gareth Brady baskets and a Jj Ryan free throw, to put them 60-59 up.

The fourth quarter remained tight, with lead being exchanged multiple times. A Brady basket had Joels Dublin Lions 73-69 up midway through it. Phoenix responded with a 7-point run, finished off by a pair of Byrne free-throws, to lead 76-73. Farouk Nour got his first points of the game with less than a minute to go to put Phoenix BC up by five points , 79-74, and that appeared to be enough. Joels Dublin Lions continued to press and would get within two with the final play of the game, but it was to be Phoenix BC’s night.

Phoenix BC captain and game MVP, Jacob Byrne, said: “It feels amazing, I don’t think many people gave Belfast (Phoenix) a chance, but I think we definitely put our name on the map today. I think we loved it that no one was giving us a chance, we were just going to show them what we’re worth. We beat the favourites Titans BC in the semi’s and Dublin Lions they’re a really tough team. We had a plan and we executed it and so I couldn’t be happier.” 

Joels Dublin Lions 80–82 Phoenix BC 

Quarter Scores:

Q1: 26-18 , Q2: 40-39, Q3: 60-59, Q4: 80-82

Joels Dublin Lions:

David Olokun, Rokas Liucvaikis, Harry Scully, Michael O’Connor, Ben Sheppard, Gareth Brady, Jj Ryan, Michael Agbomere, Pailsey Amdasun, Ridhwan Atoro, Nikita Kokorev, David Adugbole

Head Coach: Rob White

Top Scorers: Harry Scully 29, Gareth Brady 18, Rokas Liucvaikis 14

Phoenix BC:

Eoin Holman, Tom Kearney, Fointan Rogers, Faroug Nour, Omar Akhonzada, Jacob Byrne, Eoghan Sherry, Sam Petterson, Daire O’Gorman, Conn Rush, Conall Ferran, John Carlin

Head Coach: James Martin

Top Scorers:  Jacob Byrne 31, Fointan Rogers 17, Eoghan Sherry 11