Garvey’s Tralee Warriors beat Neptune 79-65 in the InsureMyVan.ie Men’s Super League.
Alan Cantwell reports
Warriors Coach John Dowling says the strength in depth of the squad was a key factor in securing the win
He says the mantra of the team of the next man stepping up has served them well in coping with their injury worries throughout the season and particularly last night
Virgin Media MVP Ryan Leonard says the Warriors had to step up without the services of Jarvis Doles and Eoin Quigley
Neptune Coach Paul Kelliher says he is still looking for consistency from his side since taking over the team in November
He says he can now start to think about the huge local derby showdown with UCC Demons in the Cup semi final next weekend
Garvey’s Tralee Warriors extended their winning run to six games in a row, and for the second time this season, lowered the colours of EnergyWise Ireland Neptune with an impressive 79-65 win in front of a packed Tralee Sports Complex on Saturday night. Coming just a week before their National Cup semi-final meeting with Ballincollig, the win was all the more significant given the Tralee side took the court without the services of both Jarvis Doles and captain Eoin Quigley who were both carrying injuries. Virgin Media MVP Ryan Leonard was immense throughout, landing a game high 31 points and Kieran Donaghy rolled back the years to produce his best performance for Warriors since his outstanding shift against UCD Marian that helped secure their League title win in 2019.
The Warriors made their intentions clear from the off and raced into an early 8-3 lead with Rap Buivydas, Ryan Leonard and Daniel Jokubaitis all opening their accounts. Neptune’s response came in the form of a major score from Cian Heaphy and when Roy Downey followed his lead the sides were level at 8-8. However the Warriors moved up a gear beginning with Caleb Jordan’s first of the night and a cracking three each from Kieran Donaghy and Ryan Leonard’s first of his six major scores forcing Neptune Coach Paul Kelliher to call a timeout. Leonard repeated the dose in the Warriors very next play and when Donaghy was on the mark again the hosts led 22-11 at the end of the first.
The Warriors continued to dictate the play early in the second with Steven Bowler, Jokubaitis and Leonard combining to maintain their double score lead. Neptune were in need of some sort of response and got it when Jordan Blount added his name to the scoresheet, Andrew Gardner fired down scores from either side of the arc and Adam Heaphy struck from distance to cut the advantage back to 30-24. Caleb Jordan helped himself to scores from inside and out to keep the pressure on but Neptune finished the quarter strongly with baskets from Gardner, Derek Murphy and a double from Blount cutting the gap to a single score. However Rap Buivydas was to have the last say in the half with a tough effort from inside keeping Warriors 37-33 ahead at the long break.
The Warriors stepped up the pace again early in the third with Donaghy dominant under his board and at the other end scores from Buivydas, Jordan and Leonard from inside and the free throw line pushed the lead out to 47-37. Neptune yet again needed a response and when Blount planted his feet to fire down a three and Sabata and Cian Heaphy followed up with a score apiece the gap was down to 47-44. Blount was again on the mark from inside and outside but the game was blown apart when the outstanding Ryan Leonard hit a stunning hat trick of threes to give the Warriors a 56-49 going into the final quarter.
Jordan Blount was on the mark early in the fourth to narrow the gap but the Warriors response was to restore and build on the lead when Buivydas and Leonard hit from inside and outside to leave nine between the sides. Scores from Sabata, Gardner and Derek Murphy kept the Cork side in touch but every basket was countered by the hosts and Buivydas and Leonard again combined to keep the lead intact. Caleb Jordan pulled up to fire in again before Andrew Gardner’s fifth foul allowed Donaghy to add from the line and when Buivydas did likewise the Warriors were comfortable at 75-61 up with minutes on the clock. Cian Heaphy added a lay-up after Jordan Blount was on the mark again before his final act of the game was to give up his fifth foul and to sit out the final minute. Neptune’s foul trouble was punished late on with Donaghy, Buivydas and Eddie Sheehy taking advantage from the line to seal the 79-63 win in the end.
Scorers:
Garvey’s Tralee Warriors: Ryan Leonard 31, Rap Buivydas 21, Caleb Jordan 11
EnergyWise Ireland Neptune: Jordan Blount 18, Derek Murphy 14, Andrew Gardner 11
The focus now immediately switches to the National Cup as the Warriors look to get back to Tallaght to contest another final with Irish Guide Dogs Ballincollig@MTU standing in their way. The sides lock horns in Neptune Stadium in what promises to be a cracking game between the Super League champions from last season up against the double winning side from the season before. Action gets underway at 8.00pm next Saturday night just 24 hours after the other semi-final with EnergyWise Ireland Neptune and UCC Demons is decided to see who will provide the opposition for either the Warriors or Ballincollig in the National Cup showpiece event over the weekend of the 20th to 22nd of January.
Also: UUJ 87 Flexachem KCYMS 99. Top scorers: L. Trvdic 25, K. Jacks 22, L. McGregor 22
In the Men’s National League Scotts Lakers St.Pauls Killarney lost to Drogheda Wolves 91-72. Enda Walshe reports
Basketball Ireland review:
Defending InsureMyVan.ie Super League champions, Irish Guide Dogs Ballincollig@MTU recorded a 93-89 victory over Maree at the MTU Arena on Saturday to ensure they remained neck and neck with Garvey’s Tralee Warriors at the top of the South Conference, while Pyrobel Killester remain well in the reckoning for this season’s MissQuote.ie Super League title following their 81-59 win on the road against Catalyst Fr. Mathews.
Irish Guide Dogs Ballincollig@MTU head coach, Ciaran O’Sullivan will be keeping his troops well grounded after seeing the defending champions edge a 93-89 win over Maree at home on Saturday that keeps them joint top of the InsureMyVan.ie Super League South Conference alongside Garvey’s Tralee Warriors.
With a much-anticipated InsureMyHouse.ie Pat Duffy National Cup semi-final against none other than Tralee next up on Saturday, O’Sullivan will be urging his players to remain focused after having now unhinged last season’s cup winners, Maree in the league.
Trailing by five points at the half-time break, Ballincollig delivered a decisive third-quarter performance that saw them outscore their Galway rivals by 12, Shawndale Jones Jr hitting 26 points on the day with Andre Nation bagging 18 points and 11 rebounds.
That contribution was to prove vital in pipping a Maree team that won three of the four quarters on Saturday with Terence Lewis II and Tahmir Gadsden delivering a combined 55 points.
“That was a solid home win and a good tune-up ahead of the National Cup semi-final next week” insisted O’Sullivan.
“Maree were not at full strength, so we won't be getting carried away, but it was a good win nonetheless” he said.
A 79-65 success for Garvey’s Tralee Warriors over Energywise Ireland Neptune in Tralee Sports Complex later on Saturday, ensured Ballincollig would not break clear at the top of the South Conference.
Ryan Leonard emerged the game’s top scorer on 31 points while Rapolas Buivydas also made a significant contribution to Tralee’s cause with a further 21 points and six rebounds.
Belfast Star bounced back strongly from their first loss in this season’s InsureMyVan.ie Super League against Griffith College Éanna earlier this month, by chalking up a 103-84 win away to Bright St. Vincent’s.
De Ondre Jackson amassed 34 points with Tamyrik Fields and Frenki Lilaj each landing 21 as Belfast won all four quarters on Saturday night.
Just like Ballincollig, Templeogue produced a crucial third-quarter run that went a long way to earning them an 81-72 triumph over Pyrobel Killester in Clontarf on Saturday.
Mahki Ramon Morris and Lonzia Tyson proved their most prolific attackers on the night with a combined 44 points that was essential in countering the heavy scoring of Killester’s Kason Harrell (27 points).
A 58-point haul in the first half laid the ground work for Flexachem KCYMS’ 99-87 win over Ulster University in Jordanstown Sports Village.
Lovre Tvrdic top scored on 25 points, while Kendall Jacks and Lucas McGregor each served up 22 with Terry Winn carding 19 in addition to 14 rebounds for the visitors.
UCC Demons will head into next weekend’s InsureMyHouse.ie Pat Duffy National Cup semi-finals buoyed by their 79-58 victory over Maigh Cuilinn in Mardyke Arena on Friday evening – their first home win in the league this season.
Seventh Woods and Elijah Tillman netted a total of 36 points for the homeside, while David Lehane carded 10 rebounds and four assists.
Pyrobel Killester ensured they remain very much in the shake-up for this season’s MissQuote.ie Super League crown after they recorded a convincing 81-59 victory away to Catalyst Fr.Mathews on Saturday evening.
American Keowa Walters notched up 26 points and 11 rebounds, while Claire Melia also made her presence felt for the Dubliners with 17 points and 15 rebounds as they remained level with FloMAX Liffey Celtics in second place, albeit having played a game more.
“We are happy with the performance” said Killester head coach, Mark Grennell after Saturday’s win.
“It can be tricky after the break, not being 100 per cent sure what we might look like, but, credit to the girls, they came in ready and got us off to a great start.
“Fr. Mathews have been impressive of late and it was a game we knew we had to be really good in, and we were. Now we’ll focus on next week’s semi-final” he smiled.
FloMAX Liffey Celtics broke the century mark for the first time this season as they chalked up a comprehensive 105-58 win over Portlaoise Panthers, who only recently parted ways with head coach, Niall Berry.
Alexandra Navarette was lethal on the inside, amassing 34 points and 12 rebounds in Leixlip on Saturday, while Tianna Ayulo, Kate O’Flaherty and Rachel Huijsdens also hit double figures against a Portlaoise side, for whom Alyssa Velles and Jessica Fressle accounted for 43 points.
Current MissQuote.ie Super League leaders, Gurranabraher Credit Union Brunell remain three points clear at the summit after they comfortably dealt with the challenge of University of Galway Mystics, winning 96-61 at the Kingfisher Sports Arena.
Kyaja Victoria Williams was in imperious form as she carded a game-high 26 points and 18 rebounds, while Jayla Nacole Johnson also delivered for the leaders with 25 points and 15 rebounds.
Jade Compton hit a phenomenal 43 points as SETU Waterford Wildcats dug out an 89-79 victory over Trinity Meteors in Coláiste Íosagáin.
She, along with Sarah Hickey and Shanai’jah Davison, was immense under the boards with the three combining for 49 rebounds, as the visitors managed to pull clear of a dogged Trinity outfit over the final quarter.
Despite benefitting from a huge 36-point haul by Trinity Oliver, Ulster University were undone 79-67 in their clash with DCU Mercy at Jordanstown Sports Village.
Brynley Fitzgerald top-scored for the winners with 25 points, while Hannah Thornton and Ciara Byrne accounted for a further 41 between them.
In the InsureMyVan.ie Division One, UCD Marian inflicted only a second league defeat on joint South Conference leaders, SETU Carlow as they ran out 89-82 winners on Saturday. Limerick Celtics drew level with Carlow at the summit after they chalked up an 88-67 triumph over Moy Tolka Rovers on the road. Joint North Conference leaders, Kavanagh’s Portlaoise Panthers and Drogheda Wolves both scored big wins, with the former chalking up a 99-62 victory away to SETU Waterford Vikings, while Drogheda returned home from Kerry celebrating a 91-72 triumph over Scotts Lakers Killarney. Limerick Sport Eagles enjoyed a comfortable 100-66 win over Team NorthWest in the UL Arena, while Joels Dublin Lions had just two points to spare in their clash with Titans BC, winning out 87-85 in Coláiste Bríde.
In the MissQuote.ie Division One, Templeogue and ISecure Swords Thunder remain deadlocked at the top of the North Conference after they both scored wins on the road, the former beating Moy Tolka Rovers 73-47, while Swords saw off Marble City Hawks 70-64. South Conference leaders, St Paul’s Killarney survived a real scare to win out 66-63 in their clash with Oblate Dynamos in Inchicore. Abbey Seals Dublin Lions earned a timely boost ahead of their InsureMyHouse.ie Division One National Cup semi-final against McEvoy’s Cavan Eagles next Saturday by recording 93-74 victory over Limerick Sport Huskies in Coláiste Bríde.
