Garvey's Tralee Warriors defeated Flexachem Killorglin 91-76 in the Men's Super League. Alan Cantwell reports
Garvey’s Tralee Warriors avenged the early season defeat to Flexachem KCYMS with a 91-76 win in front of a bumper sell-out crowd at the Tralee Sports Complex on Saturday night. Killorglin had the better of the exchanges in the opening quarter before the Warriors moved up the gears and with a 29 point second and 30 point final quarter asserted their authority in the contest to win by 15 in the end.
Killorglin got off to a flying start with Scott Angus hitting a hat trick of score, Lovre Tvrdic netting a double and Kendall Jacks opening his account and despite a cracking three from Daniel Jokubaitis and a tough inside score from Caleb Jordan, the visitors led 15-5 at the midway point in the first quarter. The Warriors cut the gap to 4 with Jokubaitis, Jordan and captain Eoin Quigley all in range but Killorglin restored a double digit lead through Tvrdic, Terry Winn and a three from Lucas McGregor and despite a late effort from Rap Buivydas Killorglin led 22-13 at the end of the first.
Killorglin pushed their lead out to double scores early in the second with two from Jacks but when Jokubaitis fired in a hat trick and Jarvis Doles followed with a double the Warriors were back on terms. The hosts pressed up on Killorglin and it paid dividends when Jokuabitis forged another three point effort and when Rap Buivydas hooked in from close range the sides were level at 31 points apiece. The Warriors had real momentum now and Doles fourth basket of the quarter was quickly added to by another trademark Jokubaitis three and the hosts suddenly led by 5. Terry Winn provided Killorglin with some respite with back to back scores and McGregor’s second three of the night levelled the game again. However Caleb Jordan’s late basket saw the Warriors lead 42-40 at the long break.
The third quarter saw the sides level on no fewer than five occasions as the game hung in the balance. Kendall Jacks levelled the game with his fourth of the night but scores from Jordan from inside and outside and Quigley were countered by Tvrdic and Winn and the sides remain deadlocked at 48-48. Liam Croke’s corner three edged the visitors ahead but Jokubaitis immediately hit back with his fourth major of the evening. Killorglin inched ahead again through Winn and Jacks but the Warriors ended the quarter in style with a Jordan double and a typical fadeaway effort from Doles gave the home side a 61-58 lead at three quarter time.
The Warriors seized the initiative early in the fourth when Jarvis Doles, Steven Bowler and Jokubaitis all fired in from distance and had the Warriors fans up out of their seats. Killorglin scrambled to find the target but baskets from Winn, Jacks and Angus saw the visitors pare the Warriors lead back to 72-67. However John Dowling’s charges set sail for home with a 14 point volley firing their way to a 17 point lead. Jordan, Doles and Jokubaitis all continued to torment the Killorglin defence and the only resistance coming from Terry Winn with four scores in a row netting 9 points. The final act of the game saw Olaf Michalczuk take centre stage with a showstopping three pointer to put the finishing touch to the 91-76 win.
Garvey’s Tralee Warriors: Daniel Jokubaitis 27, Caleb Jordan 23, Jarvis Doles 19
Flexachem KCYMS: Terry Winn 19, Kendall Jacks 17, Lovre Tvrdic 17
Next up for the Warriors is the first of four away trips in the last five games of the regulation season when they take on EJ Sligo Allstars. The Warriors overcame Sligo in the opening round of the National Cup in Tralee but since that game Sligo have secured the services of Chrishon Briggs who left Neptune mid-season and has been outstanding since his move west. It promises to be a real test for the Warriors as the hosts will be buoyed by a recent win against Ballincollig and Saturday night’s win over Bright St. Vincent’s in Dublin. Tip off next Saturday at the Mercy College in Sligo is 7.30pm. 
Warriors coach John Dowling
Warriors player Daniel Jokubaitis
Killorglin coach Mick McGinn
Full weekend review:
Ulster University produced a fourth-quarter comeback to undo MissQuote.ie Super League joint leaders, Gurranabraher Credit Union Brunell 77-72 at Jordanstown Sports Village on Saturday evening, while in the InsureMyVan.ie Super League, Belfast Star took a huge step towards the North Conference crown following their 94-86 victory away to Pyrobel Killester.
The recent loss of Ireland senior international team captain, Edel Thornton to injury is already being severely felt by Gurranabraher Credit Union Brunell as they shipped only their second defeat of the season so far when they went down 77-72 to MissQuote.ie Super League rivals, Ulster University in Jordanstown Sports Village on Saturday evening.
The InsureMyHouse.ie Paudie O’Connor National Cup champions and joint table toppers looked to be on course to weathering this severe test by Ulster after they pulled 11 points clear heading into the final quarter, as Jayla Johnson amassed 22 points while Kyaja Williams hit 19.
But nine points down the stretch by Ulster’s top scorer, Abigail Rafferty (18), coupled with a total of 15 rebounds by Trinity Oliver, went a long way to seeing Ulster bag their third win on the bounce.
“We’ve turned a bit of a corner defensively since Christmas” said Ulster University head coach, Patrick O’Neill.
“We held Brunell to 10 points in the fourth quarter and that was the difference in the game. That defensive intensity was what really stood to us down the stretch” he insisted.
FloMAX Liffey Celtics took full advantage of that loss for Brunell to draw level with their Cork rivals at the top of the table after they ran out comprehensive 97-65 winners at home to DCU Mercy in Leixlip Amenities Sports Centre.
Five players hit double figures for the hosts, including Ireland senior internationals, Áine O’Connor, Rachel Huijsdens and Sorcha Tiernan who accounted for a combined 45 points and 16 rebounds.
Catalyst Fr. Mathews ended a run of four wins in the MissQuote.ie Super League for SETU Waterford Wildcats as they took off in overtime to record a 105-93 victory in Fr. Mathew’s Arena.
Jade Compton and Shanai’jah Davison combined for 50 points as Waterford recouped the 19 points by which they had trailed their hosts at the half-time break.
But Pat Price’s side regained their composure in overtime, and with the aid of top-scorer, Shannon Brady (31 points) and Ariel Johnson (22), they won out by 12.
Pyrobel Killester bounced back from last week’s loss to SETU Waterford Wildcats by earning an 87-70 victory over last season’s champions, The Address UCC Glanmire in Inchicore.
Michelle Clarke and Claire Melia each put up 20 points, with Jiselle Thomas finishing on just one less, as the Dubliners book-ended this battle with strong first and fourth-quarter performances.
Myriam Lara Ackerman and Yvette Adriaans totalled 37 points and 16 rebounds as Trinity Meteors ended a run of seven defeats by beating Portlaoise Panthers 90-64 in St Mary’s Hall.
Belfast Star took another major step towards the InsureMyVan.ie Super League North Conference crown after they battled out 94-86 victory over one of their closest rivals, Pyrobel Killester in Inchicore on Saturday night.
Despite finding themselves 13 points adrift of the divisional pace setters heading into the second quarter, Killester remained in the reckoning thanks largely to the combined 48 points that Kason Harrell and Troy Simons put up.
But, with Tamyrik Fields chalking up 23 points along with 10 rebounds, and Conor Quinn and De Ondre Jackson each weighing in with 19, Belfast did enough to stay out of reach.
“Killester are an excellent side, but we controlled the game for long stretches and were able to withstand the runs that they made” said Belfast Star head coach, Adrian Fulton.
It’s all very tight at the top of the InsureMyVan.ie Super League South Conference after Maree recorded an 84-66 victory over Energywise Ireland Neptune in Cork on Sunday evening to rejoin both Garvey’s Tralee Warriors and Irish Guide Dogs Ballincollig @MTU on 30 points.
The Galway side, who do have a game in hand over their fellow conference title contenders, made a blistering start in Neptune Stadium as they opened up a 14-point advantage heading into the second quarter.
Terence Lewis II was superb under the boards, bagging 14 rebounds and putting up 21 points while Tom Dumont served up 19 as Maree kept their hosts at bay right to the final buzzer.
Garvey’s Tralee Warriors returned to winning ways following last week’s reversal at Griffth College Éanna, beating Flexachem KCYMS 91-76 in Tralee Sports Complex.
Nine points down the stretch by Jarvis Doles, coupled with a further seven by their top scorer, Daniel Jokubaitis (27 points) allowed the hosts pull clear of their opponents.
Shawndale Jones Jr. hit nine points down the stretch to, both, take his game tally to a massive 38 and help Irish Guide Dogs Ballincollig @MTU power their way through to a 90-77 victory over Maigh Cuilinn in Kingfisher Sports Arena on Sunday.
Griffith College Éanna moved to outright second in the North Conference table after they won out 87-70 against Ulster University in Jordanstown Sports Village.
Five players emerged from this tie on double figures for the Dubliners, including their most prolific scorer Neil Lynch (17).
Chrishon Briggs delivered another huge attacking display as he amassed 40 points, while Giorgi Tvalabeishvili and Christian Williams each bagged 20 in EJ Sligo All-Stars’ 105-95 triumph away to Bright St. Vincent’s for whom William Jenkins put up 33 points.
A titanic battle in Mardyke Arena saw Templeogue clinch a dramatic 96-93 overtime victory at the expense of InsureMyHouse.ie Pat Duffy National Cup winners, UCC Demons.
Vernon Jackson hit five crucial points for the Dubliners during the additional five minutes of play to bring his total to 27, while team mate, Lorcan Murphy landed 30 points as they did just enough to see off the hosts for whom Seventh Woods (33), Tala Fam Thiam (25) and Elijah Tillman (20) provided the bulk of the scores.
St. Paul’s Killarney secured the MissQuote.ie Division One South Conference title with three games to spare after they beat closest rivals, Limerick Celtics 71-60 in Crescent College. McEvoy’s Cavan Eagles did enough down the stretch to edge a 75-71 victory over Templeogue in the Virginia Show Centre, while iSecure Swords Thunder capitalised on that setback for their Dublin rivals to extend their lead at the top of the North Conference to six points after they carded an 81-55 success over Abbey Seals Dublin Lions in Coláiste Bríde. Meanwhile, in the UL Arena, Scout Frame served up 30 points, 15 rebounds and five assists as Limerick Sport Huskies prevailed 107-92 against Marble City Hawks while, on Sunday, Moy Tolka Rovers returned home from Barrow Centre celebrating a 75-63 win over SETU Carlow.
In the InsureMyVan.ie Division One, SETU Carlow arrested a run of three defeats after they edged out Kavanagh’s Portlaoise Panthers 103-100 in overtime in Barrow Centre a day after Drogheda Wolves beat Team NorthWest 82-78 to increase the heat on Portlaoise at the top of the North Conference. UCD Marian returned to winning ways after they beat Joels Dublin Lions at home 88-72, while South Conference table toppers, Limerick Celtics dug out a 92-82 victory over Scotts Lakers Killarney in Crescent College. SETU Waterford Vikings edged a 94-90 win at home to Limerick Sport Eagles, while Moy Tolka Rovers ran out 96-85 winners over Mater Private Malahide and Killarney Cougars carded their first league win of the season when they held off a late rally by Titans BC to prevail 92-89 in Knocknacarra Community Centre.
Extended Division One copy can be found here.
Results
InsureMyVan.ie Super League
Saturday February 3rd
Bright St. Vincent’s 95 – 105 EJ Sligo All-Stars
Pyrobel Killester 86 - 94 Belfast Star
Ulster University 70 - 87 Griffith College Éanna
Garvey’s Tralee Warriors 91 - 76 Flexachem KCYMS
Sunday February 4th
UCC Demons 93 - 96 Templeogue
Maigh Cuilinn 77 - 90 Irish Guide Dogs Ballincollig @MTU
Energywise Ireland Neptune 66 - 84 Maree
MissQuote.ie Super League
Saturday February 3rd
Pyrobel Killester 87 - 70 The Address UCC Glanmire
Catalyst Fr. Mathews 105 - 93 SETU Waterford Wildcats
Ulster University 77 - 72 Gurranabraher Credit Union Brunell
Portlaoise Panthers 64 - 90 Trinity Meteors
FloMAX Liffey Celtics 97 - 65 DCU Mercy
InsureMyVan.ie Division One
Saturday February 3rd
Moy Tolka Rovers 96 - 85 Mater Private Malahide
UCD Marian 88 - 72 Joels Dublin Lions
Titans BC 89 - 92 Killarney Cougars
SETU Waterford Vikings 94 - 90 Limerick Sport Eagles
Limerick Celtics 92 - 82 Scotts Lakers Killarney
Drogheda Wolves 82 - 78 Team NorthWest
Sunday February 4th
SETU Carlow 103 - 100 Kavanagh’s Portlaoise Panthers
MissQuote.ie Division One
Saturday February 3rd
Limerick Celtics 60 - 71 St. Paul’s Killarney
McEvoy’s Cavan Eagles 75 - 71 Templeogue
Limerick Sport Huskies 107 - 92 Marble City Hawks
Abbey Seals Dublin Lions 55 - 81 iSecure Swords Thunder
Sunday February 4th
SETU Carlow 63 - 75 Moy Tolka Rovers
