Lakers and Braves lead the pack, with Bulls in hot pursuit in Mayo boys basketball league

THE Mayo Under 16 Boys Basketball League has developed into an intriguing, race with unbeaten Crossmolina Lakers and Ballina Braves edging closer to a final meeting.

The top two teams will play off for the title and at the moment, the two north Mayo sides are strong favourites to meet in the final, with Crossmolina unbeaten and Ballina having lost just one game, which was to the Lakers.

However, not far behind are Ballintubber Bulls and they could yet have a say if other results go their way as they have been picking up momentum as the season continues.

Ballina Braves and Belmullet produced a very enjoyable game at the Ballina Community Sports Centre last week.

Belmullet did their best to keep Irish Under 16 international Nathan Roddy under wraps and manged to curtail Ballina’s leading scorer in the opening two quarters. But there was no holding Roddy, who cut loose in the third, going to the free-throw line on a number of occasions and finishing the game on 16 points.

He got plenty of support from Patrick Carr, who finished on 13 points, while Conor Burke was another who impressed for the Braves with eight points.

Ballina took the opening quarter 12-4 but Belmullet bounced back in the second quarter to win it 11-8. James Ivers, with 12 points, was responsible for that Belmullet comeback, while Thady Walsh with eight points and Jack Coyle with six points helped with the resurgence. However, Ballina bounced back in that third quarter to win it 17-10 to lead by 37-25, and try as they might, Belmullet couldn’t reel in the home side.

Meanwhile, Ballinrobe were slow to start in their Under 16 game against Crossmolina at the Gortnor Abbey Sports Hall, where Crossmolina shot into a 19-5 lead at the end of the first quarter.

With Kobe McDonald dominating the defensives boards, Ballinrobe were caught on the fast break, Dylan Flynn picking off some easy lay-ups while McDonald also hit some good scores. However, Ballinrobe soon wised up to Crossmolina’s fast-break game and were back in it in the second quarter, which Crossmolina won 9-7.

The visitors were still trailing by 15 at half-time but kept plugging away, holding their own in the third and fourth quarters. The game finished 51-31 to Crossmolina.

Liam Burke, Jack Philbin, Rory Gilraine and Theo Bellanger all hit some good scores for this improving Ballinrobe side. For Crossmolina, Kobe McDonald was top-scorer on 21 points, Dylan Flynn and Esmond Maughan both nailing 14 as their unbeaten run continues, coach Stephen Noone giving some of his younger players valuable court time.

Elsewhere, Ballintubber Bulls maintained their push for a place in the league final should the door open with any slip-up from either Crossmolina Lakers or Ballina Braves.

Ballintubber took the opening quarter against Kiltimagh 14-6, but Kiltimagh held their own in the second quarter, which was tied 10 apiece.

However, the third quarter saw the game slip away from Kiltimagh, Ballintubber winning it 17-2. Jack Diffily hit the game high of 23, Tom Duffy scored eight, while Mike Lydon and Philip Walsh all made an impact in a 49-33 win for the Bulls.

Eanna Byrne, Eoghan McGovern and Cillian Walsh put up some good scores for Kiltimagh, but the visitors had to give way to a physically stronger home side who controlled the boards.