Griffith College Éanna took another big scalp on the home stretch to the InsureMyVan.ie Super League regular season after they beat South Conference leaders, Maree 79-62 in Coláiste Éanna on Saturday night.
While Tahmir Gadsden did register 24 points for the visitors, Éanna's defence managed to shackle a number of Maree’s other big hitters, as they, themselves, finished with five players on double figures, including Sean Jenkins (14 points) and Kristijan Andabaca (13).
"It was a very good defensive performance and a well-earned win against a talented Maree team" said Griffith College Éanna head coach, Darren McGovern.
Irish Guide Dogs Ballincollig @MTU capitalised on that reversal for Maree to draw level with their Galway rivals at the top of the South Conference following their 80-64 victory over Ulster University in Jordanstown Sports Village.
The visitors both started and ended this fixture with big runs as Andre Nation and Shawndale Jones Jr each hit 19 points, which more than countered the combined 30 that Eric Anderson and Nathaniel Shafer put up for Ulster.
The battle for the one remaining play-off spot up for grabs in the InsureMyVan.ie Super League will go down to the final day of the regular season when UCC Demons welcome Flexachem KCYMS to the Mardyke Arena.
An 86-73 win away to Bright St. Vincent's on Saturday saw Flexachem close in on the play-offs, but their 87-61 reversal at the hands of Pyrobel Killester in Killorglin Sports Complex, coupled with UCC Demons’ 83-72 victory at home to Ulster University the following day, means that it’s all to play for on St Patrick’s Day.
InsureMyVan.ie Super League leaders, Belfast Star had run out 101-84 winners over UCC Demons in Newforge Sports Complex on Saturday.
De Ondre Jackson turned in another colossal performance for the table toppers, amassing 45 points and 10 rebounds as both sides emerged from this battle with four players on double figures.
Despite a 28-point haul for Elijah Weaver, Garvey’s Tralee Warriors still shipped a fourth successive defeat when they made the trip to Pyrobel Killester, losing out to their Dublin rivals 90-76.
Kason Harrell drained all eight of his attempts from the free-throw line as he top scored on 30 points for the hosts, while Troy Simmons contributed a further 23.
EJ Sligo All-Stars carded their biggest total of the season so far after they emerged 126-98 winners over Energywise Ireland Neptune in Mercy College.
Chrishon Briggs netted a huge 35 points for the hosts, while Tom Child and Giorgi Tvalabeishvili combined for 44, as Sligo saw off a Neptune outfit, who themselves had four players finishing on double digits, among them Derek Murphy on 30.
A Vernon Jackson deuce with eight seconds remaining proved the difference between Templeogue and Maigh Cuilinn, as the Dubliners edged a dramatic 66-64 win in the National Basketball Arena.
That bucket took Jackson’s total to 28, every bit of which was needed to help pip the Galway side, for whom Grant Olsson and Conor Dickerson chalked up a total of 34 points and 24 rebounds.
