U18 Boys – Narrow Defeat in a Hard-Battled Contest

Hazelwood Hawks U18s fell just short in a competitive game against North Star Warriors, losing 68–73 at the University of Ulster. After a strong second quarter in which the Hawks outscored their opponents 25–14, foul trouble and a difficult third quarter allowed North Star to swing the momentum back in their favour.

Despite the result, there were standout performances. Samuel Olatunbosun led all scorers with 42 points, continuing his excellent early-season form and showing real leadership throughout the game. Azeem Bello (10 points) and Alan Baranowski (8 points) provided solid contributions, while the team showed good resilience late in the fourth quarter to close the gap. 

In their first fixture of the season, the Hazelwood Hawks U12s claimed a well-deserved 33–20 victory over North Star Warriors. Playing with discipline and confidence, the team established an early lead and maintained control throughout all four quarters.

Adam Hughes top-scored with 12 points, showing strong finishing around the basket. Oran Campbell added 9 points, including key scores in transition, while Patrick McCreary and Daragh Gillen both contributed 4 points each. Defensively, the team worked well to limit scoring opportunities and showed excellent teamwork for a season opener.

For many players, this was their first competitive basketball match, and they approached it with maturity, effort and enthusiasm, an encouraging start to their campaign.