STATEMENT WIN!
Spectacular performances from Kourouma and Faapito lead the U20’s to a debut win in the Dublin League!
Final Score: Tolka Rovers 73-65 Dublin Sonics
Half-Time Score: Tolka Rovers 35-30 Sonics
Venue: Tyrellstown Community Centre
Player of the Game: Moustapha Kourouma
Top Scorers: M.Kourouma 26, E.Faapito 22, E.Farrelly 8
Starting Five: A.Biffi (C), E.Farrelly, E.Faapito, M.Kourouma, S.Badejo
After an excellent preseason tournament in Cork, the U20 men’s team faced off against a strong Dublin Sonics in their first official game of the year. It was a back and forth start with Elijah Faapito knocking down a quick three for Tolka’s first bucket of the game. Ethan Farrelly proceeding to score an acrobatic floater to tie the game at 5-5. Faced by a zone defence, the boys moved the ball around nicely to get a few nice open looks at the basket. At the end of the quarter, Kourouma gave a spectacular no-look pass to Faapito for an easy layup, Faapito finished the quarter with 9 points. After the first quarter, the game was tied at 19.
An aggressive Moustapha Kourouma in second quarter got the basket a few times for some acrobatic finishes at the rim. This created the momentum necessary for Tolka to build a nice lead. Kai Reilly had a strong “and-one” finish at the basket but the highlight of the quarter was definitely Faapito’s no-look euro-step assist for a cutting Matthew Conlon for a tough reverse layup under the basket. We had our first “Shaqtin-a-fool” moment of the season when Faapito was called for a double dribble on a fast break when about to go up for a dunk. Hopefully he can get to training soon and practice his dribbling!! The first-half ended with Tolka up 5.
A strong start to the second-half led by some spectacular defence from Ethan Farrelly led to Tolka building a comfortable double-digit lead. Captain Ale Biffi snuck through the defence for an acrobatic finish to keep the loud crowd supporting Sonics at bay. Ethan Farrelly was able to open the game up with his floaters, he really has nice touch around the basket! Sam Badejo was intimidating presence on both ends , snatching rebounds at will. In the end Kourouma’s knockdown 3 point shooting and Badejo’s emphatic dunk sealed the game for Tolka. A great win to start off the season! You know it’s a great game when 5’5 Ale Biffi is snatching rebounds down over the other teams’ big man!!
All eyes ahead to Wednesday the 19th of October, in the U20’s Home Opener against BC Tauras in Tolka. We hope to have as many down as possible supporting!
