News Articles
Irish Superleague Season 1999-2000
Limerick basketball went live on National television Friday last when Team Burger King took on the might of Marian Dublin in the National Arena on TG4. Limerick never really got a good star in this contest and struggled to make outside shots. Rock Winston gave it his all and kept Burger King in the race. At half time Marian led by one and the huge home support seemed to inspire them. Limerick made a run in the third quardter but his free throw shooting leeft hi down., Marian plugged away an ran out winners in the end 87-84pts... Limerick were disappointed by the performance as they missed eleven three pointers in the last quarter which could have given them victory.
It was back home to Limerick University on Sunday for the local derby between Limerick and Clare. Clare entered the game as favourites with much of their own supporters cramming into Limerick University looking for victory. Clare have no less than 5 professional players on their side so Limerick would have a tough test ahead of them. Limerick would hnow have to forget about Fridays loss and focus on the game in progress if they wanted this one. A thoroughly superb first ten minutes by Rock Winston with a spectacular dunk raced Limerick into a 15 point lead. Mike Norris and Kareem Lewis soon followed Winstions example and Limerick led by 27 points 40-67 at half time.
The trio continued to put on exhibitional basketball and led by 40 points going into the last 6 minutes 100-60pts. Coach Tom Hehir ran his benbch as Clare had no answer for the Limerick lads and notched up a record 121 points to 71 pts win in this eagerly awaited game much to the dilight of Limerick supporters. Rock amassed a season high of 41 with Kareem Lewis on a season high of 39pts.
Limerick now face last years league winners Star of the Sea Belfast at home this Sunday November 28 at 3:15pm. This isa game not ot be missed as Star will be in top form to try and win their second league title..
© Limerick Post Newspaper Publishers 27th November 1999
NOTRE DAME LEAVE IT LATE
By Ian O'Riordan
DENNY NOTRE DAME cer-tainly anticipated a determined challenge from Neptune as they opened their defence of the Sprite Cup at the National Basketball Arena on Saturday night, and it was only in the last five minutes that they got the crucial baskets to bring them safely through to the quarter-final on a score of 90 to 77.
Currently holding the second place spot in the Superleague, Neptune began this tie with the more aggressive and effective play as Marcus Wally, Jon D'Orlando and Rasuel McKune worked on building an early lead.
Brian Benjamin and Ciaran Dempsey kept Notre Dame in touch before Eric Blair then turned the second quarter into a one-man show by shooting 16 points. Dempsey added six more to leave the sides level on 40 each at the halfway stage.
The lead then switched an amazing nine times in the third quarter, starting with Notre Dame, then Neptune, and ending with the superior defence from Notre Dame while Dempsey took his scoring total to 29. Neptune couldn't rally anymore and left Notre Dame with their 13 point victory and one step closer to the four-in-a-row.
Joint leaders of the league Round last year's Cup runners-up, Esat Telecom Demons, had a slightly more comfortable affair when they knocked out UCD Marion with score of 80 to 73. Waterford Crystal, however, had to work throughout the four quarters to hold off the consistent challenge of Kerry Spring Killarney.
Waterford opened with a 14 point lead, as Dean Kavanagh scored seven of his season's 12 assists in the first quarter, but the Kerry side never let the game get beyond them after that. With just over two minutes remaining, the lead was down to three points although late baskets by Roscoe Patterson and Kareem Porter extended their lead to 70 to 64 by the finish. Queens Graduates, the only non-Superleague side in this year's competition, almost caused the biggest upset of the Cup when losing out by a single a point to Belfast rivals Star of the Sea yesterday. Incredibly, Star was down by a point with four seconds to go. Then Gareth McGuire was fouled on the shot by Bret Swartz, the two frees were converted and Star were saved for another date at least. Both Burger King Limerick and St. Vincent's made sure their path to the quarter-finals remained on course.
Dungannon fell to Limerick 92 to 65 as they were outscored in the third quar-ter by 34 points to nine. Vincent's also produced one-way traffic against Sligo Dairies who were down 23-8 at the end of the first quarter and despite fighting back to a nine point deficit, they were eventually sent flying 87 to 66. The Clara Jets produced an-other spirited performance in their meeting with Tolka Rovers, but with Greg Haffner and Lennie McMillan on excellent form for Tolka, they eventually fell 80 to 74. The draw for the quarter-final was also made yes-terday, the four games to be played on December 11th and 12th.
QUARTER-FINAL DRAW
(Home team first):
Tolka Rovers v Star of the Sea;
Denny Notre Dame v Burger King Limerick;
St Vincent's v East Telecom Deamons;
Waterford Crystal v Killester.
© Irish Times Newspaper Publishers 1st November 1999
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TEAM BURGER KING EAT BLUE DEAMONS ALIVE Team Burger King have already pulled off the shock of the season by beating the current table toppers Blue Demons by a comprehensive 86-71 margin. They were greatly assisted byu the arrival of Kareem Lewn who contributed 27 points. Despite suffering from the obvious effects of jetlag the 6'7" New Yorker proved to be too much of a handful for the opposition. Heis prosence should see Limerick reverse the earlier defeat by Dungannon in the Superleague and advance to the second round of the Sprite Cup. |  |
TEAM BURGER KING DEFEAT SLIGO
On Sunday 17th September, Team Burger King faced Sligo Daries in their second home game of the year. After a sizeable defeat against Killester in their first home game of the season it was clear that a win was needed. The game started quickly with the home team soon jumping to a 10-6 lead.. With some excellent shooting performances from Rock Winston and Mike Norris Team Burger King soon jumped out to a formidable lead. This continued throughout the first half. At the beginning of the second half Sligo reemmerged ready to make a game of it and pulled back 8 unanswered points. But this run was not to continue and the Home side finished victorious with a 100-74 win. Their first of the season.
ESB SUPERLEAGUE COMMENCES
Team Burger King Limerick will open their league campaign at the UL Sports hall next Sunday at 3:15pm. Their opponents for the opening league game are Killester who finished 3rd in the league last year.
The Limerick side will unveil two very exciting Americans this year including Roger Winston a 6'4" forward from New Orleans. Roger is a dunk specialist and probably one of the best American players to join the club in recent years. He will be joined by Joe Crumby from Tennessee. Joe stands at 6'8" and he is a naturel team leader with great shooting skills.
The Limerick team finished in seventh place in the last year's league and will be hoping to improve on that position this season.
