Five-star performances from the two scholarship students – T John Casiello and Jack Murphy – helped to fire LyIT into its first ever National Basketball final.
Letterkenny Institute of Technology 79 Dublin Business School 58
Yesterday evening, LyIT overcame Dublin Business School at An Danlann with Casiello scoring 31 points and Murphy landing 25.
Vital three-pointers from Peter Lynch and Ray Balogun also proved key in a keenly-contested semi-final at a packed hall.
The visitors found themselves 22 points behind after the first period but strong contributions from their two main men – Nathaniel Muster with 27 and Diago De Souza Salazar getting 19 – meant that they just shaded the last three periods 47-48.
The home side got off to a flying start and led 32-10 at the end of the first period, with some excellent play and cracking baskets giving them the edge.
DBS had the better of the early stages of the second period before a fightback by LyIT left it 50-31 in their favour at half-time.
It was a similar story in the third quarter, DBS starting well before being pegged back.
The fourth period was again keenly contested but as tiredness set in, both teams missed chances and LyIT just shaded it 13-8 for a comfortable 21-point victory and a first ever final spot.
“It was a great win and a great team performance,” said LyIT coach Mark Cannon. “They really dug deep. The start really set the tone for us.”
