Condolences
Everyone at Longford Phoenix Basketball club would like to express their condolences and sadness at the passing of Margaret Moore who passed away recently.
Margaret’s son Alan is a coach with the club and is a well-known and highly respected member of the local basketball community over the years as both a player and a coach.
We wish Alan and all the family peace, comfort, courage and lots of love at this time of sorrow. May Margaret rest in peace.
Irish call-ups
Congratulations to Jakub Pasieczny and Prosper Chukwu on their recent selections for the Irish national team.
Pasieczny was selected by Ireland’s u18 head coach Paul Kelleher for the 2022/2023 Irish U18 squad. The St Mel’s College student has six underage caps for Ireland already. This is Jakub’s second year with the u18 squad.
Chukwu has been selected on the extended Irish U17 men’s panel. We wish both players continued success at international level.
Senior Men
The men’s senior team were in action on Sunday evening with an away game against Athlone.
The team included a number of u18 players. In a tight, close, contest the more physical hosts came out on top by nine points winning 63 points to 54.
Benny McGerr top-scored for Phoenix with 22 points, Eoin Creevy scored 16 points, Jakub Safiak registered seven points. Neil Kilbane knocked down four points, David Maher added three points and Domas Vilys got two points. Mark Canty and Ian Walsh also completed the line-up.
Next up for the men is a home game against Mayo Meteors this Saturday, November 26th at 3:30pm in the Mall Sports & Leisure complex. All support would be greatly appreciated.
LLR League
Senior Ladies
Our Senior Ladies team started their LLR League campaign with a difficult trip to Sligo to take on the All Stars on Monday, November seventh. Sligo winning out by 30 points. Longford going down 72 points to 42.
The women’s side also lost at home to Mohill on Monday, November 14th, with the visitors winning comprehensively. Eva Cregg top scored with 14 points in the Sligo game. Adrienne Mulligan top scored for the Phoenix with 13 points in the Mohill game.
Jayne Walsh Smith, Karen Walsh, Adrienne Mulligan, Monica Bannon, Eva Cregg, Eilish Foley, Debra Stell, Laura O’Rourke, Helen Walsh, Eimear Tuite, Elizabeth O’Boyle and Katie Quaine featured in both games.
Next up for the ladies is an away game this Sunday, November 27th against Castlerea Cavaliers with tip-off at 4:30pm.
Phoenix Ladies second team
Our Ladies second team lost their opening two LLR League games. Going down 73 points to 48 away to Sligo and also suffering a heavy defeat away to Mohill.
Against Sligo, Rachel Penrose top scored with 19 points, while Caoimhe Mulvey added 17 points. In the Mohill game, Rachel Penrose top scored with eight points and Erica Jordan was the next highest scorer with four.
Midlands League
Our u18 Men’s recorded a fabulous home victory over Athlone in their Midlands League encounter last week, running out winners by 73 points to 61.
Dara Keavenny scored 16 points, Patrick Clancy added 12 points, David Maher and Dillon Swaris both knocked down 10 points each, Domas Vilys scored six points and Prosper Chukwu added five points.
Our U18 Ladies team won one of their opening three Midlands League games. They were well beaten in their first game by Tullamore at home.
The team bounced back in style to win on the road against Portarlington Kestrels 34 points to 19 with Rachel Penrose top scoring with 24 points.
Over the weekend, they were narrowly beaten by Clonaslee of Laois 42-37. Rachel Penrose top scored with 17 points, Erica Jordan added eight and Suzanne Traut scored six.
Our U14 Girls team hosted Tullamore at the Mall and unfortunately lost in overtime by four points.
