Sprite Cup Finals 2000 Notre Dame make it four in a row
Denny Notre Dame continued their dominance of the Sprite Cup into the 21st century, their 69-67 defeat of St. Vincent's in the 2000 men's final making it four years in succession the Dubliners have lifted Irish basketball's top prize.
However it was a close run thing at the end of a classic encounter as Vincent's fought to add the Cup to the play-off crown they won last March, their charge led by Stephen McGuirk who amassed a superb 30 points' MVP show.
Tied at 32-32 at half-time, the duo battled to and fro before finally the decisive lead fell in the holders favour. with brilliant teenage sensation Ciaran Dempsey hitting a team-high 20 points for Anthony Jenkins' side.
But it was McGuirk who kept the pulses racing to retrieve a six point final quarter deficit, his pair from the foul strip helping his team into a once unlikely 60-61 lead.
However Vincents' momentum dried up from the line and Notre Dame streaked ahead, Jenkins hitting a three pointer before compiling a three-point play on his next drive. That left the scoreline at 66-64 in the holders' favour, but again McGuirk soon kept the contest alive with his fourth try of the game to level matters at 67-67.
However American Eric Blair's jump shot with five seconds left took his tally to 19 to smash Vincent's hearts and following a brief time-out, there was no way back.
St Vincent's: Stephen McGuirk 30, Karl Donnelly 14
Notre Dame: Ciaran Dempsey 20, Eric Blair 19, Anthony Jenkins 15
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