Three big Super League games rounded off the decade in Irish basketball this weekend, as Maree, Moycullen and DCU Saints all finished 2019 with a bang on Saturday evening.
Down in Cork, it took overtime to separate Coughlan C&S Neptune and Maree, with Maree picking up the win in the end, 92-99 to deliver Neptune their second overtime loss in as many games.
The game was close throughout with neither team able to hold a comfortable lead as they matched each other score for score. Maree narrowly led 40-45 at the half, thanks to well-balanced scoring from Oriol Balsells Plaza, Kenneth Hansberry and Paul Freeman.
The battle continued in the second half though, with Lehmon Colbert's scoring and inside presence proving instrumental for the hosts in the fourth quarter. Cian Heaphy also caused havoc for the Maree defence down the stretch and was on hand to level the game at the death at 81 points apiece and send it to overtime.
It remained neck-in-neck in overtime but in the end, Balsells Plaza and Darin Johnson had the magic touch for the visitors in the dying moments of the game to make it four straight wins for Maree going into the New Year.
Fellow Galway side Moycullen were also celebrating the end of 2019 in style as they managed to hold out to get a big 69-60 home win over Pyrobel Killester.
The home side kept Killester at arm's length in the first half, 40-31, thanks to good scoring from Grant Olsson and Dylan Cunningham.
Killester were not going down without a fight though, and kept battling right to the end. John Behan was to the fore for the Dublin side, but despite their best efforts, Moycullen held firm and won by nine in the end.
DCU Saints saw off the test of Abbey Seals Dublin Lions in their Dublin derby on Saturday evening in Clondalkin, with a 70-78 win.
Saints started the better of the two teams thanks to scoring from Mike Bonaparte and Kevin Lacey. Lions rallied back, with Jarrett Gray and Finn Hughes finding their range from behind the arc and pushed into the lead in the second half.
Saints' kept their cool though and back-to-back three pointers from Lacey, coupled with the composure of Bonaparte from the free throw line, helped DCU earn some breathing space to secure the away win.
Belfast Star, DBS Eanna and Garveys Tralee Warriors are all locked on 27 points at the top of the table with Belfast taking top spot on points difference.
Abbey Seals Lions remain rooted to the bottom having lost all 13 of their games.
