Defending champions Killester one of three teams to remain unbeaten in Domino's Women's Super League
Zyon Dobbs of Energywise Ireland Neptune sets his sights on the basket.
Belfast Star enjoyed a second straight victory in the Domino’s Men’s Super League with a comprehensive victory over Energywise Ireland Neptune.
Irish international Rapolas Buivydas had a stellar game with 24 points, 11 rebounds and 7 assists in just 27 minutes of play. He wasn’t without support either with Conor Liston, Aidan Quinn and Max Richardson scoring 21, 18 and 17 points respectively. Belfast started the game hot and never let up, taking a 19-point lead into the half-time break. After the break, they only seemed to pick up more and more which inevitably lead to a 36-point win by a score of 112-76.
Elsewhere, new boys Limerick Celtics, who won at the death in week one against Ballincollig, were on the receiving end this week as EJ Sligo All-Stars scored a buzzer-beating jumper through Elijah Faapito to take home their first victory of the campaign in a 88-86 scoreline. Elijah had a steady performance with 13 points, 9 rebounds and 6 assists. But it was the duo of Jazere Noel and Christian Michael Williams, who combined for 49 points, that drove Sligo through the pressure that came from the newly-promoted Limerick side.
In another game that went down to the wire, we saw Garvey’s Tralee Warriors take a late win over UCD Marian by a score of 77-74. Following a three-pointer from Joshua Reynolds, who had a game-high 22 points, to tie the game, it was Jordan Perkins who hit a two with less than 20 seconds on the clock and followed that up by making a free-throw to ice the game and get Tralee on the board in the win column this season. Eoin Quigley put on a strong performance for the Kerry men with 19 points and 9 rebounds to accompany Perkins 21 point showing.
Moving over to Cork now where we had possibly the individual performance of the weekend from St. Vincents player Jaylyn Richardson. Richardson scored 36 points in just 34 minutes, including 5 threes, as the men from Dublin took home an impressive victory over Ballincollig by a score of 95-91. St. Vincents will be happy with their response this week after a heavy loss to Killester in week one. As for Ballincollig, they continue to search for their first win of the season following a second loss despite a strong showing again from the trio of Josh Steel, Latrell Jossell and Latavious Mitchell. They will be hoping to get their season back on track next weekend in a Cork derby against Neptune.
In the second local derby of the weekend, we had two teams in Killester and Griffith College Éanna who had polar opposite opening weekends last week. Killester coming off of a 24-point triumph over St. Vincent’s and Éanna, who had a 22-point defeat last Saturday to UCD Marian. But the table was in fact turned this week as Éanna came out victors by 96-85 in Killester on Saturday night. A huge bounce-back performance led by the three men Sean Jenkins, who had 24 points, Mikah Blackwell with 19 points and 6 rebounds and Kristijan Andabaka who had 18 and 6 assists. For Killester, it was Paul Dick who was leading the offensive charge with a game-high 28 points accompanied by 6 rebounds and 4 assists. Killester will be hoping to respond next week as they travel to Killorglin to face Flexachem KCYMS on Saturday night.
Speaking of Killorglin, they are in action today as make the journey to Cork to take on defending champions UCC Demons, who had a huge win against Neptune last Friday, at 3pm live on BITV at basketballireland.tv .
Killester, Gurranabraher Credit Union Brunell and Trinity Meteors all maintained a perfect start to the Domino’s Women’s Super League this weekend.
Starting off with Brunell, they made the journey to Cavan to face newly-pormoted McEvoy’s Cavan Eagles who were looking for their first win of the season. In a game of two halves, there was seven lead changes in the first half alone. But after the half-time break, Brunell turned up the heat and led by as much as 24 at one point. Maddie Cluse starred for Brunell with 24 points and 15 rebounds as they went home with a 2-0 record after a 17-point victory by a score of 72-55.
As for Trinity Meteors, it was an all-team performance with four of the starting five scoring at least 10 points as Meteors won 75-57 against Catalyst Fr. Mathews in Cork. Kylie Horstmeyer led the way for Trinity with 21 points on 27 efficiency. She also had 9 rebounds and 3 assists to round up what was a comprehensive day for the girls from Dublin. They will be looking to continue their unbeaten start next weekend when they face SETU Waterford Wildcats.
The Waterford side should be in resurgent mood as they avoided an 0-2 start with an 82-65 win over FloMAX Liffey Celtics at Mercy College on Saturday night.
Meanwhile, over in Killester, they continued their great start to the season by following up a 27-point victory last weekend with a 28-point win against UCC Glanmire this weekend. The three starters of Michelle Clarke, Samantha Haiby and Audrey Roden combined for 54 of Killesters 78 points. They were also helped by a strong showing off the bench from Leilani Turner who scored 13 points on 5-11 shooting from the field. Killesters unbeaten run will be tested next weekend as they travel to face another undefeated side in Brunell next Sunday.
We have one game today as Midlands Park Portlaoise Panthers take on Utility Turst St. Pauls Killarney at 3:30pm live on BITV at basketballireland.tv . Both sides started the season with a win but only one team will join Trinity, Brunell and Killester in the 2-0 group to start the season.e
