Subscribe to rss
Celtic Cup 2011 Slams to an End as Scotland Comes Away with the Win
The final two games of the Celtic Cup 2011 were played Sunday at the Peak in Stirling. Through the support of British Wheelchair Basketball, players were able to promote their sport and provide a learning experience for both themselves and their fans.
Wales faced Northern Ireland in the first game of the day. The players on Northern Ireland quickly showed they would be a team difficult to beat in this tournament. By the end of the first half they had already taken a 21 point lead, beating Wales 30 – 9.
The game displayed the same roughness that Wales and Scotland had shown Saturday in the first game of the Celtic Cup. In order to gain possession, players on both teams showed no aversion to scrambling on the court even if it meant falling from their wheelchair to win the ball. This not only excited the fans to see the intensity of the game, but helped both teams keep the pressure on each other. Northern Ireland continued to display quality control of the ball, allowing them to dodge the Wales players and increase their score. By the end of the game, Northern Ireland had not relented their control of the lead and triumphed over Wales, 55 – 23.
In the final game of the day, both Scotland and Northern Ireland came onto the court following their big wins over Wales. Coming out of the first quarter, the game was the closest any game in the tournament had been with Scotland leading 18 – 10. Both teams had established a rhythm to the game, working their way from offense to defense and never decreasing the intensity with which they began. However, once the second quarter started, Scotland began to push harder trying to take a significant lead over Northern Ireland. Their achievement was clear once they rolled off the court with a 19-point lead at the end of the first half. Scotland’s success could be attributed to the same kind of teamwork they showed Saturday against Wales. They displayed their talent by moving away from the basket, opening space for a single player to move through and towards the hoop. This strategy was an easy way to out-maneuver Northern Ireland’s defense.
Scotland’s ability to pull ahead early in the game was exactly what they needed to win the final game of the Celtic Cup 63 – 32. In both their games, their skills were unmatched by neither Northern Ireland or Wales. As a result, the Scottish National Team won the Celtic Cup 2011.
Third position was given to Wales and Northern Ireland took second.
Further details on the competition can be seen on British Wheelchair Basketball’s website:
Related News
PARTNERS & SPONSORS
