MATCH REPORT

14/10/06 BI Arena
SuperLeague Cross Conference
Shamrock Rovers HOOPS	91 (FT)	81 (FT)	Abrakebabra Tigers
	55 (HT)	44 (HT)
Jonathon Reed 29			Dave Fanning 29
Ian O'Boyle 15			Wilder August 28
Luke O'Hea 13			Aidan Holden 14

13th Oct 2006

The Hoops started brightly with Ger Jago stepping inside to hit an early bucket off the glass.  Luke O'Hea added another before Wilder August replied for Tralee.  Jonathon  Reed was in control for the Shamrock Hoops hitting a big "three" and finding the open man with regularity to bring all his side's players into the game.  Young Graig Jago came in for his brother and straight-away made a difficult lay-up on the break and a putback off the glass after beating August to a rebound.  For the visitors Wilder August was doing the damage on the inside scoring 11 points and drawing fouls as the home side found him difficult to handle.  James Mooney hit seven for Tralee and the lead was a single point at the end of the first quarter.

Into the second quarter the Hoops began to light it up.  O'Boyle and O'Hea hit "threes" and JReed and Kevin Young added 6 points apeice as the home side began to dominate. For Tralee  August made four from four at the foul line and Dave Fanning came alive  with 9 points as the visitors tried to stay in touch.  The home side had too many threats however - the Jagos hit a bucket each and O'Boyle and O'Hea hit two more as the Hoops stretched the lead to eleven, 55 to 44, at the half.  

The Tigers came storming back in the third.  Liam Culloty hit a "three",  Aidan Holden made two baskets and Fanning and August added five more points each as they tried to get their momentum going.  However, Lennie and Joey Haastrup hit big "threes" to keep the Hoops ahead.  Things looked ominous for the home side when Ger Jago fouled out but August missed vital foul shots and the Hoops led by eight at the end of the third.

Into the fourth quarter it was the battle of the point guards.  JReed and Dave Fanning were going basket for basket and had the crowd on the edge of their seats with an exhibition of superlative skills.  Hoops had the edge purely because they had more threats around the floor.  Haastrup hit another big "three" from deep in the corner; Ian O'Boyle netted twice and Lennie McMillan and Craig Jago made crucial foul shots.  Tralee were too dependent on their two Americans and although Fanning and August played well there were not enough baskets from elsewhere to get them back into the game.  Once Lennie got to grips with August on the defense for the Hoops the game was over and in the end the ten point margin was about right.