Eagles make it five out of five

Virginia based newcomers outgun Tolka

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Emma Tolan weighing up her options.

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No way through, as Casey Mulvey stops Tolka’s 6’5” American.

Published: Wed 2 Nov 2022, 4:19 PM

Last updated: Wed 2 Nov 2022, 4:24 PM

Cavan Eagles: 57

Tolka Rovers: 50

John Stephens

McEvoy’s Cavan Eagles made it a remarkable five out of five when overcame the mighty Moy Tolka Rovers at the weekend.

The win was all the more impressive as it was their second away victory playing in the capital in a row. So far, the newcomers have played with a cool confidence that has defied their supposed lack of experience at this level.

Tolka are an experienced outfit, boasting two excellent American players including the impressive Shelby Cheslek. At a towering 6’5”, the American centre is an imposing defensive presence and has the offensive skills to match. This was a tough assignment for the Eagles and sure enough it turned out to be a real battle, with the result in the balance right until the end. Once more the cool heads of the Eagles and their ability to perform under pressure ensured it was five wins in a row for the Cavan crew.

The game began with both teams playing tough defence, and the tall Cheslek making it difficult for the Eagles to score close to the rim. Indeed, Cheslek was having a major impact on offensive as well as defence and scored all but one of the Tolka baskets in the opening quarter. The Eagles in contrast shared their scoring, with Ciara Tolan, Brady, and Mulvey all contributing and finished with a one-point lead, 12-11, at the end of a low scoring first quarter.

It was an intriguing contest, that no doubt had the Eagles coaching staff plotting and planning in order to manage Cheslek’s impact and increase the scoring options for the Eagles.

Quarter 2 saw the Eagles storm out of the blocks with a huge team effort that saw six players land scores. The surge was on, led by the Tolan sisters, Niamh and Emma, who made a major impact off the bench, scoring a combined 14 points in quarter 2 alone. In sharp contrast to the first quarter, the Eagles defence prevented Cheslek from scoring a single basket in the quarter. This was a massive defensive effort led by Eagles’ 6’2” centre Eli Lopez Sagrera and ably assisted by American Alarie Mayze, who severely limited the impact of the second Tolka American, point guard Katrina Roenfedlt. The superb team effort saw the Eagles outscore Tolka 24-10 in the quarter and reach half time with a fifteen-point lead, 36-21.

In the National League, where the skill level is so high, a game is never over until the final whistle and a 15-point margin can vanish in the blink of an eye. Tolka started the half in determined fashion, scoring nine unanswered points before the Eagles registered a single score. Cheslek had found her rhythm again, and despite some good defensive work by Lopez Sagrera, chalked up eight points in the third quarter. It was a tough quarter for the Eagles, who were outscored 18-9, but hung in there thanks to some nice baskets from Brady and Mayze, along with a superb 3-pointer from Ciara Tolan. The quarter finished with the Eagles’ lead cut to six, 45-39, and a reinvigorated Tolka team looking to continue their dominance.

The final quarter saw the Tolka Americans continuing to trouble the Eagles; Cheslek hit two baskets while Roenfedlt knocked down a long range 3-pointer. Before long the Eagles’ lead was a single point, and Tolka were playing aggressively, repeatedly fouling the Eagle players in an attempt to regain possession and push into a lead. But it wasn’t to be. The Eagles kept their nerve and scored some crucial baskets in the closing stages. Ciara Tolan, Mayze, and Lopez Sagrera were fantastic as the game hung in the balance, showing their ability to perform under pressure and extending the Eagles’ lead as they closed out another excellent win, 57-50.

Terrific

“Terrific win for the team and club,” was assistant coach Carol Verschoyle’s take on the game. She paid tribute to the Eagles’ travelling support.

“It is a tight gym with a loud home crowd who came with drums and a lot of noise, but a big shout out to our supporters who travelled and got behind us, and as usual encouraged the team just as loudly, they are like our sixth player!”

Ciara Tolan emphasised the focus of Eagle players in seeing out the tight contest.

“While it did get a little close at the end, we had plenty of experienced players to draw from. We focused on protecting the ball and not giving them the opportunity to get any free shots at the basket.

“Overall, a fantastic win and we are really looking forward to playing Phoenix Rockets in the next round of games.”

Break

The Eagles have a well-earned break this coming weekend, and travel north to Lisburn on Sunday, November 13 to face the strong Phoenix Rockets, another challenging road trip.

The next home game comes on Sunday, November 20 at the Virginia Show Centre against the Dublin Lions.

It promises to be a great event, with rumours flying about sightings of a 6-foot Eagle mascot around the Virginia area. The big blue Eagle is believed to be making its first appearance on the 20th and is set to ramp up the excitement levels even further.

Tickets for the home game can be reserved on the Eagles Facebook page closer to the date.