inspires win
22 August 2008
Notre Dame 80 Poland 67
Notre Dame sharp shooter, Kyle McAlarney, claimed his second golden ball of the Emerald Hoops tournament, as the touring Indiana College overwhelmed their opponents at the National Arena last night.
The Fighting Irish having pipped the host team with a late Ryan Ayers basket in their opening game last night were in unstoppable form last night with McAlarney continuing on to shoot ten outside baskets to collect his second MVP award of the tournament.
Notre Dame were quick out of the blocks with their Washington, IN forward, Luke Zeller scoring five of his team's first eight points.
However Poland after their resounding win over Iceland yesterday kept close to their opponents courtesy of scores from Pawel Leoncyz.
Notre Dame however kept the pressure on with Ayers stealing possession for the Americans to extend his team's lead. And although Pawel Mroz was able to hit a hook shot inside, Ayers soon returned to the free throw line to sink two more.
And by the end of the quarter, the Americans had brought their lead out to 25-18, courtesy of a three pointer from Kyle McAlarney.
And back-to-back baskets from Luke Harangody followed soon after by a layup by Tori Jackson soon sounded alarm bells in the Polish defence.
And despite baskets from Pawel Leoncyk and Marcin Stefanski, Notre Dame were now beginning to pull away with three pointers from Zeller and McAlarney followed by a jump shot by Jackson to leave Notre Dame up 48-35 up at the interval.
Poland attempted to make a game of it after the break with their 6 foot eight centre Damian Kullig endeavouring to break down the Americans under their basket.
And with 3-15 to go in the quarter, Kullig had put five between the sides only before McAllarney popped up with a two pointer before the buzzer to leave Notre Dame 64-57 up.
And with Poland's two big players, Stefanski and Lukasz Wichniarz now off the court, the Americans turned it on in the final quarter with McAlarney sinking a series of stunning shots to hand Notre Dame a comfortable 80-67 win in the end.