Mayo Meteors maintain unbeaten run
MAYO Meteors put in another strong performance before an enthusiastic home crowd at the De La Salle Hall on Saturday night, where Castlerea provided the opposition in this third round of LLR Shannonside Senior Men's League.
Coach Terry Kennedy was across the pond attending his daughter’s graduation but he left the coaching role in the safe hands of Anthony McHale, who ran the bench to ensure all panel members got a good run.
At the end of the opening quarter Meteors had stamped their authority on the game. Alex Evans put in another big performance, sinking three three-pointers in that quarter alone and nailing his fourth in the second quarter to end on 15 points for the night.
James McMenamon popped the opening basket and by the end of the first quarter Meteors were 22-6 ahead, Castlerea struggling ot get a foothold in the game.
However, the visitors settled down much better in the second quarter, scoring 15, but it was Meteors who led 45-31 at half-time, Herman Heyl strong in both offense and defence, while Stephen Crowley, who finished on 18 points, stepped up to the plate with some good baskets, proving very strong inside, as did Bartek Zalewski, who finished on nine, and James McMenamon, who finished the evening on a solid eight points.
Castlerea had the deficit down to 10 points early in the third quarter. The visitors also came up with four three-pointers of their own and won that quarter 17-13, but Meteors turned up the heat in the fourth and final quarter, which they won 16-7, Crowley and Heyl picking off some good scores as to keep their unbeaten run intact.
With a limited bench, Castlerea put in a good show in the second and third quarters but Meteors play a strong running game and that powerful first quarter stood to them.
However, they will need to be more clinical in their finishing, especially under the boards, when they collide with Ballina Braves, who are also unbeaten in this very competitive league.
Meteors are away to Longford next weekend and then face Ballina Braves at the De La Salle Hall. The game was fixed for Saturday night, December 3, but now seems likely to be played at an altered time and date which has yet to be arranged.
Mayo Meteors: C. Bermingham (2), D. Cosgrove (5), S. Crowley (18), A. Evans (14), H. Heyl (12), E. Ivers, L. Jordan, J. McMenamon (8), D. Nyland (4), P. Walsh (2), B. Zalewski (9), S. Lavelle.