Troy Simons, a former Kent State Golden Flashes guard went lights out for Killester as they progressed to the men’s basketball Irish Super League championship game. Emmet Ryan was at the IWA to take in all the action
This was a bruiser and a feisty encounter. In a tough battle, one man stood taller than the rest. Troy Simons, formerly of the Kent State Golden Flashes, was imperious as Killester overcame UCC Blue Demons. The victory sends them to the championship game of the InsureMyVan.ie Irish Super League.
A different man starts the story
While this game would eventually turn out to be the Troy Simons show, it looked like a different baller was going to take over at the start. Seventh Woods was electric for UCC Demons in the opening quarter.
Woods, who has enjoyed a redemptive season in Ireland, was dominant in the first 10 minutes. There was a crossover three. Then came the step back shot inside the arc. Then, at the end of the quarter, an oh my God buzzer three. He made the Killester D look like the hired goons that John Wick dispatches en masse. Demons held a 7 point lead after 10 minutes and it looked like this would be another column about his epic comeback arc.
Killester had other ideas
The one thing anyone was certain of going into this game was that Killester had shooters. It’s never been an area they’ve lacked, even in leaner times for them in Irish basketball’s top competitions. The orange and black are reliable for having options that can score in a hurry.
Paul Dick and Kason Harrell led the charge but Troy Simons started cooking. The former Kent State Golden Flashes star had the type of timing that would frustrate opponents. Just when Demons felt there was an opening, Simons would be there to cool off any fightback.
Woods meanwhile was getting frustrated. He got ridiculous air for two desperation blocks. Unfortunately, both ended in clear contact and fouls being called against him. This wasn’t the start of the chippiness. Both sides had been feisty from the off in this. It was somewhat natural as Killester sought to limit the supply to Elijah “Baby Shaq” Tillman for Demons. When there’s a lot of contact around the post, it tends to infect the rest of the floor.
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A gamble fails
The UCC Blue Demons strategy after the break was obvious. It also had potential to work. The problem was, that it just didn’t. The visitors pounded the paint relentlessly to start the third quarter. It wasn’t entirely one dimensional. The goal was to make Tillman more of a problem for Killester but the point of attack varied.
Still, the end focus remained the same. Drive the lane, draw contact, look for a bucket. The shooting from Demons however simply didn’t yield anywhere near sufficient results. Nor were they drawing enough fouls. It was bruising, certainly but not the type of game changer they sought.
A rim rocking dunk at the other end from Troy Simons had the crowd in a rapture. With 13 minutes left to play, the lead was 15 but felt far greater. The former Kent State man was stepping on the throats of Demons every time they felt a run beginning. Then Woods picked up his 4th with 2.29 left on the quarter. The matter felt done.
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An unstoppable takeover
Woods would eventually foul out on a technical. Indeed the sheer number of technicals and unsportsmanlike fouls called on Demons in the second half was hard to keep up with. This wasn’t to be his or Tillman’s night. It belonged to the former Golden Flashes man.
Troy Simons posted a simply extraordinary line for a championship semi final. He finished with 37 points on 12 of 15 shooting, with 5 rebounds, 2 assists, and 2 steals. Simons quite simply raised the bar for what was needed in this game.
With clinical timing and tremendous efficiency, he was Killester’s monster that defied Demons at every turn. The reward is a date with Éanna in a fortnight and a shot at the Irish Super League title.
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