Belfast Star’s Max Cooper says his side are still on course to make the All-Ireland Super League Play-Offs despite their 81-76 defeat away to Eanna on Saturday night.
In a tense battle from the first buzzer to the last, Star had an opportunity in the final minutes to grab a victory on the road, but too many chances were wasted and Eanna made them pay.
Deondre Jackson top-scored for Star with 21 points, while Cooper had 17 and five rebounds and Max Richardson 13 and six rebounds. Sean Jenkins had 21 points for Eanna, who sit one place ahead of Star in the Super League in sixth.
Cooper said: “I don’t know what it is about that Eanna gym, but we always seem to be up at half-time and then they come out and hit a string of threes and get the win.
“But I am very confident that if we play with the same intensity and heart that we showed in this game then we’ll be in the Play-Offs.
“We have three games at home and one on the road, and it’s in our hands because thankfully Sligo and Neptune both lost.
“So, we’re still in seventh place, and although we lost and it hurt, we did show a grit and fight from everyone on the bench, and that’s what we’re going to need to make the Play-Offs.
“I thought Max Richardson showed us all what is required. He’s the definition of a team player and he had one of his best performances of the season. We all need to show the intensity for every minute in these remaining games.”
Star shocked the home side in the first quarter when, with three minutes remaining, they had opened up a 14-point lead.
Three-pointers from Cooper and Richardson as well as his fine defensive work contributed to the early advantage, which was cut to 24-14 at the end of the quarter.
Star’s offence went a little cold at the start of the second quarter as Eanna chipped away at their lead and a three from Tyland Crawford brought them to within a point. But Jackson, Richardson and Darweshi Hunter responded to once more open up a six-point lead.
In the dying seconds, Conor Quinn hit a three to make it 41-34 in Star’s favour, and a great rebound by Jackson made sure that was the score at the break.
Joshua Wilson, Stefan Desnica and Kristijan Andabaka all hit threes to help Eanna close the gap, but Star still led 59-55 heading into the final quarter.
With four and a half minutes remaining, Eanna took the lead for the first time through Jenkins. Cooper nudged Star into the lead but then Jenkins hit a three.
Star’s offence stuttered while Jenkins and Wilson made their baskets to secure the win.