Flexachem KCYMS enjoyed a narrow home victory against Maree last night.
The Killorglin side took the honours by 85 points to 82.
Killorglin opened the scoring with early threes from Clay Ladine and Beni Fungala. Maree soon replied with three’s from Josh McGettigan and Eoin Rockall. Team Flexachem continued to score well throughout the quarter with further threes from Jordan Blount and Eche Okeke which saw them lead by 26 to 13 by quarter’s end.
The second quarter saw Flexachem open with a three pointer from team captain Liam Croke, Jordan Blount had a good run in this quarter scoring eight points, six of these were from the free throw line which helped the home side to a 52 to 35 point lead by half time.
Maree had a strong third quarter with Josh McGettigan netting four 3 pointers along with their American Miles Brown contributing a further 13 points and saw the Galway outfit outscoring Team Flexachem by 28 to 12, leaving the Launesiders with a one point lead on 64to 63 by the end of the third.
The fourth quarter was a very competitive and tense affair with the lead changing sides on several occasions. When Miles Brown tied the game at 82 all with 16.4 seconds left on the shot clock, coaches Wall and Buckley called a time out. On resumption of play Killorglin played down the clock and with 3 seconds to go, Jordan Blount found Beni Fungala with a cross court pass, Beni shot for a three, the shot was good, sparking wild celebrations among the home crowd as this proved the winning score giving Team Flexachem a much needed win on a final scoreline of 85 to 82.
This win was all the sweeter considering Killorglin did it without the services of their big centre Nathaniel Powell who missed the game due to injury. It also keeps Team Flexachem in contention for a top eight play off place. Best on the night for the home side were Jordan Blount on 22,Eche Okeke on 22 and Beni Fungala on 14.
Team Flexachem’s next game is at home to league leaders Killester on Bank Holiday Monday 3rd February, tip off for that one is 4.30.
KCYMS PRO Ger Nolan reports.
Utility Trust St Paul's Killarney were victorious in their Women's Superleague game defeating Brunell by the narrowest of margins.
The game at Presentation Gym ended with 71-70 success.
St Paul's PRO, Enda Walshe reports.
At the same venue, Killarney Cougars were on the wrong end of the result in their Men's Division One game at home to Moycullen losing by 78 points to 73.
Cougars PRO David Ahern reports.
Also in the Men's National League, there was defeat for Scotts Lakers St Paul's Killarney losing 73-63 away to Titans.
Enda Walshe again...
Basketball Ireland Womens Development League Round 4
Garvey’s Tralee Warriors 53 Fr. Mathews 78
Garvey's Tralee Warriors unbeaten run the League came to halt on Saturday when they succumbed to a well organised Fr. Mathews side by 78-53 at Mercy Mounthawk. The Warriors did start positively and in a well contested opening quarter set the early pace with scores from Holly O’Brien, Kelly Fitzgerald and a major effort from Aisling Counihan. Fr. Mathews replied in kind through Aine Fitzgerald, Alanna Braham and Abby Murphy but the Warriors kept their lead intact when O’Brien and Counihan combined again to edge the hosts 18-15 ahead at quarter time.
Fr. Mathews wrestled the lead back early in the second with scores from Niamh Braham, Amy Corkery and Moira Duffy while at the other end the Warriors were limited to a single score from Anna O’Sullivan, but when Niamh Collins knocked down a three pointer the sides were level at 27-27. However Fr. Mathews finished the quarter with a quartet of baskets from Chloe Ferris, Lynn O’Dwyer and a double from Abby Murphy to see them 35-30 to the good at half time.
The visitors went on an impressive and ultimately decisive run early in the third when they quickly built a double digit lead through Corkery, Niamh Braham and Abbie Jeffrey but the Warriors responded through O’Brien and an and one from Emily Flynn to cut the gap to 45-36 midway through the quarter. However Fr. Mathews continued to find the scores as they needed them and O’Dwyer, Jeffrey and a late double from Niamh Braham saw the Cork side bring a 57-42 lead into the final quarter.
A hat-trick of scores from Alanna Braham, Emmanuela Amayo and Jeffery for Fr. Mathews effectively settled the contest early in the fourth and the Warriors' cause was dealt a further blow with Emily Flynn taken from the court with a shoulder injury. After a short injury delay, Fr. Mathews drove on to increase the gap through Corkery, Ferris, Murphy and the impressive Niamh Braham with three identical efforts and despite a double from Anna O’Sullivan and late score from Sorcha Casey, the Cork side’s second half overall dominance saw them see out the 78-53 win in the end.
Scorers:
Garvey's Tralee Warriors: Holly O’Brien 19, Aisling Counihan 11, Anna O’Sullivan 8
Fr. Mathews: Niamh Braham, Amy Corkery 12, Abbie Jeffrey 10
Next up for the Warriors is an away trip to take on Glanmire with both sides coming into the contest on an identical 3-1 record. Tip off next Saturday 1st February in Upper Glanmire is at 6.30pm.
Basketball Ireland Mens Development League Round 3
Garvey’s Tralee Warriors 79 Fr. Mathews 70
Garvey's Tralee Warriors extended their winning run in the League to three wins from three after they overcame a dogged and resilient Fr. Mathews side at Mercy Mounthawk on Saturday evening. The Warriors led at the end of all four quarters and by as much as 18 early in the fourth before Fr. Mathews battled to the final buzzer to keep the hosts honest as the clock ticked down.
The Warriors started impressively with major scores Zygi Kaletka and two from James Fernane as well as a double at the board from Daire Kennelly quickly building a 15-5 lead. Fr. Mathew’s reply was instant and mainly driven by the sharp shooting Aaron O’Donovan who single handedly cut the gap to a single point. Fernane with an and one and another three brought his tally to 12 but O’Donovan struck again and a basket from Emmanuel Anaba with the last action of the opening quarter cut the Warriors lead to 21-19.
The sides went score for score in the second with Steven and Dan Bowler both in range for Warriors and Josh Osayanrhion making an instant impact when introduced with a powerful double. Fr. Mathews kept pace with the Warriors attack and then briefly led with O’Donovan, Ryan Nolan and Patrick Murphy combining to edge them 32-31 ahead. But Warriors finished the half strongly with Osayanrhion on the mark again and another double from close range from Kennelly saw the hosts go 37-32 up at half time.
The Warriors maintained their advantage in the third with Fernane knocking down his fourth major and Steven Bowler, Kennelly and Kaletka combining to bring the home side to the 50 point mark at the midway point in the quarter. Fr. Mathews kept well in the game with Ryan Nolan, Ciaran Dennehy, Anaba and Murphy all on target but the Warriors set sail for home with Dan Bowler landing a quickfire six points and Kennelly and Kaletka also in range to give the hosts a commanding 61-47 advantage turning down the stretch.
Fr. Mathews threatened a comeback with two major strikes from distance from Ryan Nolan early in the fourth but the Warriors asserted through Osayanrhion, Dominic Craig, Padraig Fleming and Kennelly to push the gap out to 19. With the heavy lifting done, the Warriors did ease up and allowed Fr. Mathews make a run to the line that saw O’Donovan fire in 12 points late on to keep the score reasonable and the Warriors honest. However the hosts saved the best until last with James Fernane teed up Josh Osayanrhion for a perfectly executed 'alley oop' finish to end the game in style and seal their 79-70 win.
Scorers:
Garvey's Tralee Warriors: Josh Osayanrhion 16, Daire Kennelly 15, James Fernane 15
Fr. Mathews: Aaron O’Donovan 27, Ryan Nolan 13, Emmanuel Anaba 10
Basketball Ireland Development League Men 24-25 Round 4
Limerick Celtics 63
Garvey's Tralee Warriors 85
Garvey's Tralee Warriors BIDL Men produced another impressive display to back up their win on Saturday and keep their title defence right on track by overcoming keen rivals Limerick Celtics in Crescent Comprehensive on Sunday afternoon.
The Warriors got off to their customary fast start and with Josh Osayanrhion, Zygi Kaletka, James Fernane and Padraig Fleming all on target early they built a 17-9 lead. Celtics scores came through a combination of Sean Ryan, Cian Gleeson and Dennis Matthews and Gleeson and Ryan added again to pare the Warriors advantage back but a late double from Padraig Fleming saw the visitors 22-13 up at quarter time.
Another good start to the second quarter saw Warriors push on with Steve and Dan Bowler and Aaron Fleming easing the visitors 15 points clear. Despite scores from Ryan, Gleeson, Philip Kearney and Patryk Rejkowicz for the hosts, the Warriors relentlessly forged ahead when Osayanrhion and Dan Bowler added a quickfire 9 points to put further daylight between the teams. Fernane, Kennelly and Osayanrhion combined to put clear water between the teams and as the halftime buzzer sounded the Warriors looked comfortable at 46-27 up.
The Limerick Celtics came out a different side in the third quarter as they set about chasing down the Warriors lead with a 23 point volley from Kearney, Ryan, Gleeson and Rejkowicz, and despite Osayanrhion and Fernane adding a double each, the Warriors lead evaporated down to a single score at 56-53. Aaron Fleming then picked the perfect time to knock down a three to quell the Limerick onslaught and Fernane and Osayanrhion combined again to see the visitors assert and take a 63-55 lead into the final quarter.
The Warriors momentum from late in the third flowed effortlessly into the early exchanges in the fourth as they set about securing the win with Steven Bowler and Aaron Fleming firing in 11 points without reply. Philip Kearney added a solitary score for Celtics but Padraig Fleming from either side of the arc, Steven Bowler and Dominic Craig were all in range to put their side 85-57 up. Celtics did add some late gloss to the final score through Matthews, Kearney and Kevin McCarthy but the Warriors prevailed comfortably in the end by 85-63 to make it four wins from four in the League.
Scorers:
Limerick Celtics: Philip Kearney 18, Sean Ryan 16, Patryk Rejkowicz 11
Garvey's Tralee Warriors: Josh Osayanrhion 23, Padraig Fleming 13, Aaron Fleming 11
Next up for the Garvey’s Tralee Warriors BIDL Men is an away trip to take on Maree in the Calasanctius College in Oranmore on Saturday 8th February with tip off at 3.00pm.
