UCD Marian were 20 points winners over Pyrobel Killester in their Men’s Super League clash on Saturday evening, but head coach Ioannis Liapakis is keeping his feet planted firmly on the ground ahead of next weekend’s Hula Hoops Cup final between the two sides.
"It was an amazing win for us, now we are back in the race for the league," he said afterwards.
"Like last week, we kept the momentum. Going into next weekend, we’re trying to learn the lessons from last year – our mistake then was that we didn’t play the game, we played the occasion."
Templeogue remain top of the table meanwhile after they overcame Maree in a 94-68 point win, while Belfast Star secured a 75-90 point win on the road to Griffith College Swords Thunder.
DCU Saints left Cork with a 100-83 point win over C and S Neptune in the bag.
Elsewhere, Moycullen got a vital win on the board when they overcame Keane’s SuperValu Killorglin 82-57 in Galway on Saturday night.
Demons took revenge on Tralee on Saturday evening, running out five-point winners thanks to late pressure down the stretch. Girts Lazdans, Kyle Hosford and Brandon Watts all caused trouble for Tralee to see the Cork team home to victory.
Courtyard Liffey Celtics remain unbeaten at the top of the Women’s Super League for yet another week, after they overcame Marble City Hawks in emphatic fashion, 68-35.
Allie LeClaire, Ailbhe O’Connor and Karen Mealey were all on form for the league leaders, as they head into next weekend’s Hula Hoops National Cup final still unbeaten.
Cup finalists Singleton SuperValu Brunell also head into next weekend’s showdown off the back of a big win, coming back from as many as fourteen down to see off the challenge of DCU Mercy, 64-59.
Sarah Woods (20 points) was the big threat for the visitors early on, catching Brunell out on the fast-break with her desire to get ahead of the ball and they lead by eight at the half.
By the start of the fourth quarter, Brunell had closed the gap to just three points, taking the lead for the first time in the contest on a Linda Rubene shot from the corner with seven minutes to go.
Danielle O’Leary was immense from behind the arc down the stretch, but having gone up three it took a huge steal from Maddie Ganser in the dying seconds to seal the win for Tim O’Halloran’s side.
"It was another good win for us, we’re on a bit of a run at the moment," said the Brunell coach after the win.
"It’s always good to get a win going into a Cup game. Now we can put the league aside and hopefully create a bit of history."
Revenge was sweet for Fr Mathews meanwhile as they overcame Cork neighbours Ambassador UCC Glanmire in a nail-biter on Saturday evening 82-74.
A big push by the hosts down the stretch coupled with 20-point contributions from both Grainne Dwyer and Shannon Brady saw Mathews over the line in the hotly contested derby.
Carlow launched a late comeback on NUIG Mystics in Galway on Saturday afternoon to deny the hosts their first win of the Super League this season.
A 30-point game from guard,Courtney Walsh helped Carlow to a 74-67 point win, having trailed for the first three periods of the game.
Elsewhere, Maxol WIT Wildcats secured a big home win against Pyrobel Killester on Saturday evening, with Allyssa Velles, Jasmine Walker and Stephanie O’Shea all contributing big points to see them over the line 70-65.
Basketball Ireland Results: January 18-20
Basketball Ireland Men’s Super League:
Griffith College Swords Thunder 75-90 Belfast Star
CandS Neptune 83-100 DCU Saints
UCD Marian 83-63 Pyrobel Killester
Garvey’s Tralee Warriors 70-75 UCC Demons
Moycullen 82-57 Keane’s Supervalu Killorglin
Templeogue 94-68 Maree
Basketball Ireland Women’s Super League:
NUIG Mystics 67-74 IT Carlow Basketball
Fr Mathews 82-74 Ambassador UCC Glanmire
Marble City Hawks 35-68 Courtyard Liffey Celtics
Maxol WIT Wildcats 70-65 Pyrobel Killester
Singleton SuperValu Brunell 64-59 DCU Mercy
Basketball Ireland Men’s Division One:
Ulster University Elks 75-109 Scotts Lakers St Paul’s Killarney
GameFootage.net Titans 65-84 IT Carlow Basketball
LYIT Donegal 65-82 Waterford Vikings
Bad Bobs Tolka Rovers 74-42 Limerick Celtics
Abbey Seals Dublin Lions 81-49 Fr Mathews
DBS Eanna 92-65 LIT
EJ Sligo All-Stars 80-74 Tradehouse Central Ballincollig
KUBS BC 82-72 UL Sports Eagles
Basketball Ireland Women’s Division One:
Maree 76-46 Limerick Celtics
Ulster University Elks 84-78 Trinity Meteors
UL Huskies 64-90 Team Tom McCarthy's St Mary’s
Fabplus North West 63-75 Phoenix Rockets
Portlaoise Panthers 96-77 Swords Thunder
