Phoenix hold off Neptune comeback to prevail 84-77 in NICC Men’s National Cup semi-final

Phoenix defeated Neptune 84-77 to reach the NICC Men’s National Cup final, where they will play Killester, who defeated Ongar Chasers 73-53 in their semi-final on Saturday. Maks Dimitrov scored a game-high 26 points for the victors. 

Neptune opened up a 7-0 lead in the opening exchanges, Gary Walsh downing the first of his three three-pointers in the first quarter. Phoenix responded with an eight point run to nudge themselves in front after Connor Mason’s score. It was a tight quarter, Neptune had the narrowest of advantages by the end of it 24-23.

Phoenix Basketball made it a nine point game, 38-29, after back-to-back scores by Peter Ferguson and Dominic Lynn’s jump shot with a little over four minutes gone in the second quarter. Paul Keenan’s three snapped the run with a three for Neptune. A three from the top of the arc by Lynn put Phoenix 43-32 ahead with three minutes to go. A long three by Kevin Garcia for Neptune in the final minute was matched by Maks Dimitrov late on and Phoenix led 51-39 at half-time.

Dimitrov landed his second three of the contest for Phoenix to give them a 61-48 advantage midway through the third quarter. Neptune narrowed the gap, Gary Walsh’s layup saw them trail 62-54 with three minutes to go, his personal tally at 14. Phoenix held a 64-55 lead at the end of the quarter after free throws by Lynn and Dimitrov.

Phoenix appeared to quash Neptune’s designs on a comeback at the start of the fourth with back-to-back three’s from Danny Lavelle and Dimitrov to put them 70-57 ahead two minutes in. An 11 point run by Neptune with David Varma and Shane Duggan grabbing a pair of baskets each and Caleb Leahy’s corner three saw the deficit closed to five, 75-70, with three and a half minutes to go and their supporters were starting to believe.

Two Dimitrov free throws saw Phoenix 79-73 up with 2’07 to go, but Neptune responded with a neat corner two by Walsh. A layup by Mason with a minute remaining re-established a six point lead for Phoenix, 81-75, and they would cling on for victory, winning 84-77.

Quarter Scores:

Q1: 23-24, Q2: 28-15, Q3: 13-16, Q4: 20-22

Game Scores:

Q1: 23-24, Q2: 51-39, Q3: 64-55, Q4: 84-77

Phoenix:

Dominic Lynn (18), Gary Murphy (0), Richard Berzins (5), Maks Dimitrov (26), James Lynn (2), Peter Ferguson (8), Brian Lynn (2), Connor Mason (8), Danny Lavelle (15).

Neptune:

Paul Keenan (5), Eoghan Sheehan (4), Jason O’Callaghan (0), David Varma (9), Brian O’Neill (DNP), Shane Duggan (19), Sean Carroll (12), Eoin Barrett (DNP), Kevin Garcia (3), Philip Cashman (4), Gary Walsh (18), Caleb Leahy (3).