By David Kelly, Belfast Telegraph

​Coach Darren O’Neill has hailed the influence of American Dillon Stith after Belfast Star pulled off an upset 82-78 victory away to DCU Saints in the All Ireland Premier League.
 
Travelling south with only eight players due to an injury crisis, Star came up with only their second win of the season and Stith was to the fore with a 28-point game-high return, while Keelan Cairns impressed as well with 25.
 
But Stith’s arrival has clearly had an impact on the players as the American has brought class and an intensity to the side which is rubbing off on those around him.

“There’s no doubt that Dillon given us more quality. I do think that had he been in from the start of the season we would have won more games at this stage,” said O’Neill.

 “Not only is a fine basketball player but he’s a great guy, he gets on fantastically well with the other players and he has brought an enthusiasm that the other guys have responded to.

“He has been getting the scores that we need but he’s learning as well, and he will learn to be an even better professional.”

O’Neill is now hoping this first win for a couple of months will Star gain some momentum as they approach the midway point of the campaign.

He added: “After going out of the cup last weekend we were very disappointed. We had been in a winning position and then only scored one basket from 15 attempts.

“We talked about that and the guys responded. We were leading 31-26 after the first quarter and led at the break and then 68-58 going into the final quarter. Although we lost that last quarter we got the win and that gives everyone confidence.
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“If there’s one thing this side doesn’t lack it’s character and they showed that on Saturday night.”

By David Kelly, Belfast Telegraph

Belfast Star coach Darren O'Neill couldn't hide his bitter disappointment as his side allowed a golden chance to make the semi-finals of the National Cup slip away.

Only trailing Moycullen by a point after the first leg, Star placed themselves in a great position going into the final quarter, leading 70-61, but then the baskets dried up and they went down 84-80 at Methody.

O'Neill had called for his team to finally rack up a score that could realistically give them a chance of victory and that objective looked in sight as fine performances from American Dillion Stith and Keelan Cairns who scored 33 and 14 points respectively gave them confidence, but a lack of depth in quality is their Achilles heel.

Star must now return to the All Ireland Premier League and seek to revive their fortunes over the coming months.

O'Neill said: "To turn into the last quarter with a 70-61 lead it's very, very frustrating to lose from that position. This was a great chance for us to make the semi-finals because we were not facing one of the elite teams in the league.

"After the first leg we were feeling quite good because we were only trailing by a point and we started well in a game that was much more open than I expected. It was do or die and the game reflected that.
 
"We probably paid the price for some players having to play too many minutes and going forward we need to have more players stepping up and getting more minutes. Keelan getting into foul trouble hurt us as well because I had to take him out in the third quarter and for the start of the fourth.

"We had plenty of chances to win the game but the bottom line is that we weren't good enough - and that goes for the team right through to the coaching staff.
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"But the improvement we need is not going to happen overnight. We have a lot to work on and we won't stop until we get that improvement."