Star had shot the lights out in the first quarter as they led Frosties by 21 points, 38-21, and that included six three pointers.

The home crowd was shell-shocked as they feared a blow-out but it was their new American Antoine Gillespie who rallied Frosties with a superb display of shooting from the guard position. And by the final buzzer the former Philadelphia 76 star had amassed a 43 point haul to bring his side back from a hopeless position to grab a sensational victory and stun high-flying Star and their coach Danny Fulton.

Gillespie, who has just replaced Chris Thompson, was born in Chicago and has been playing top-class basketball in France until a groin injury sidelined the 28-year-old last April.

He has not played a game since and Frosties got him on loan until the end of the season and, considering this was his first game for eight months, Gillespie gave some performance that rattled Star who had their full side except for the absent John Leahy.

Frosties have lost their Bosman player Barnaby Craddock, while John Teahan is still out with a back injury and will probably not play again this season while Rick Leonard is in a similar position.

It was a game full of some great outside shooting and a total of 23 three-pointers gives an indication of the quality of the game. Frosties used Michael Quirke inside with Chris Davis and Quirke drained 18 points and 20 rebounds while Davis, who was feeling the effects of the 'flu, hit 17 invaluable points.

Kieran Donaghy gave another great display at both ends of the court and this 19-year-old is a precocious talent. Alan Keane came of the bench, after his month-long absence through injury, and drained three massive three pointers when the need was greatest. Liam Culloty and captain Kevin O'Donoghue also played their parts in this memorable Frosties triumph.

Star looked on fire in the first quarter as they blitzed Frosties with four three pointers, three from the unstoppable Scott Summersgill and with Mason and Campolieta scoring at will in the paint, Star moved 22-7 in front with just 3:50 left in the quarter.

Antoine Gillespie was starting to adjust to his new team-mates but four points from him and a three from Michael Quirke was all Frosties could muster. Star, with Mason and Fulton draining further threes, moved 38-17 clear with Gillespie hitting two threes to give notice that he was only warming up.

The second quarter saw Frosties up the tempo and, with Quirke and Donaghy grabbing vital boards, suddenly Star began to struggle as Gillespie began to hurt them.

Then a three minute spell Frosties shot five threes in a row from Keane (2), Gillespie (2) and one from Quirke as Fulton drained one for Star but Frosties had closed the gap to just five points at half time 54-49 with Gillespie on 25 points for the home side and 16 three pointers being scored in this explosive first half.

Frosties closed the gap to just three points early in the third as Alan Keane hit another three with Gillespie now being doubleteamed by Star.

Now it was Star's turn to hurt Frosties from the perimeter with Summersgill hitting two threes and Maguire and Compolieta making it four in a row but a three point play from Davis and a basket from Gillespie through traffic kept Frosties within six points with 5:00 left in the third.

Two turnovers by Frosties gave Mason two easy buckets and Star were now 76-66 clear and favourites to win. Gillespie was perfect from the free throw line as Keane was shackling Summersgill but Star led 79- 70 at the end of the third.

Frosties started the fourth in whirlwind fashion scoring baskets from Donaghy, Davis, Gillespie and Quirke and Star were forced to take a time-out as the scor line saw their lead cut to a single point 79-78 with 7:07 left.

Kieran Donaghy then saved Frosties with an incredible interception and Gillespie made one from two after being fouled. Fulton and Mason then seemed to have given Star the vital edge down the stretch as they moved 90- 79 clear with just 3:02 left.

Then came Frosties' sensational finish, roared on by a partisan home crowd, as a three-point play from Davis and a massive three from Gillespie left just five points in it with 2:10 left.

Quirke and Donaghy out battled Star under the boards and Gillespie found Quirke twice for two superb scores as Frosties were within a point of Star with 1:01 on the clock.

Davis then gave Frosties the lead with 43 seconds left but Mason kept his cool and gave Star the edge 92-91 with 33 seconds on the clock. Then came the big play of the game when Donaghy found Gillespie and he drained a three to almost bring the house down with 24 seconds left.

Star tried to get the basket to level but Fulton's effort was grabbed by the heroic Quirke and when Gillespie was fouled he made one with 8.3 left to give Frosties a 95 to 92 win despite Mason's last-gasp three-point attempt which was well off target.

It was an amazing end to an incredible game and few players have made such stunning debut in the Superleague as Gillespie who was, without doubt, the game's MVP with a 43-point haul.

Gillespie said afterwards that he was delighted with the welcome he received in Tralee.

"Since I arrived, people have been very friendly to me. My job is to score and that is the job I was asked to do," he said. "It went well but it might not always go like that. But I will try to do my best and I am impressed with the younger players here," Gillespie added.

"I have seen the stats and I will be trying hard to improve the win column. It was difficult to get used to some of the plays and I am sure my team-mates felt the same way. "I like to perform and I hope I will be right for Frosties. I will give it my all and we will see what happens," the MVP said.

"The crowd were great – all I can promise is that I will do my best and I am looking forward to the challenge," he added.

Top scorers:

Frosties: Gillespie 43, Quirke 18, Davis 17, Keane 9, Donaghy 6, O'Donoghue 2.

Star: Mason 23, Summersgill 22, Completia 21, Fulton 17.

 

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