Maree secured top spot in the South Conference of the InsureMyVan.ie Super League, after an 80-72 success on the road against Pyrobel Killester, while UCC Demons earned the big victory they needed against Flexachem KCYMS (110-62) to pinch the one remaining play-off berth up for grabs.
Maree held firm in the face of a fourth-quarter surge by Pyrobel Killester to win out 80-72 in Clontarf on Saturday night and subsequently clinch the InsureMyVan.ie Super League South Conference title.
With five players finishing up on double digits, among them Terence Lewis (17) and Tahmir Gadsden and Tom Dumont on 16 apiece, the visitors were able to successfully counter Killester's big hitters in the likes of Kason Harrell who chalked up 28.
"We're delighted to secure the win against Killester and it's an added bonus that we get the first seed in the conference for a second year running" said Maree head coach, Charlie Crowley.
UCC Demons required a 21-point win over Flexachem KCYMS if they were to pip their Kerry rivals to the last remaining play-off spot, and they served that up with interest, storming to a 110-62 triumph in the Mardyke Arena on Sunday afternoon.
Huge performances from Seventh Woods, Tala Fam Thiam and Elijah Tillman who, together, amassed 85 points and 32 rebounds, proved the driving force behind this crucial victory for the Cork side.
"I’m extremely happy with the lads’ efforts today" said Daniel O’Mahony, UCC Demons head coach. "We knew we had a massive task on our hands and, credit to the lads, we did it quite comfortably".
Despite Che Yasin turning in a game-high 27 points and Conor O’Sullivan and Nil Sabata combining for 42, Energywise Ireland Neptune still suffered a 95-85 reversal at the hands of Irish Guide Dogs Ballincollig @MTU in Neptune Stadium on Friday night.
A haul of 26 points by Shawndale Jones Jr, coupled with the 23 that Andre Nation put up, went a long way to seeing the visitors open up a 17-point advantage heading into the final quarter, during which Dylan Corkery and Keelan Cairns totalled 15 to help stave off a late surge by Neptune.
Griffth College Éanna recorded a huge third-quarter run to ultimately inflict a rare defeat on Belfast Star in what was a North Conference top-of-the-table encounter in Newforge Sports Complex.
While there was a nice spread of scoring among the Éanna line-up on Saturday night, Sean Jenkins enjoyed another particularly big game for the Dubliners, top scoring on 28 points to help ensure second place in the conference for his side, and with it, a home quarter-final in the play-offs.
Despite a gritty fight back in the second half of their clash with EJ Sligo All-Stars in Mercy College on Saturday, Ulster University still suffered an 86-78 defeat, consequently missing out on the chance to avoid relegation that Bright St. Vincent’s loss to Templeogue had offered them.
Christian Williams delivered big for the in-form Sligo with 32 points and 13 rebounds that went a long way to seeing them make it six wins in their last seven outings of the regular season.
Templeogue finished their campaign on a high note by way of a 95-90 victory on the road against Bright St. Vincent’s, Vernon Jackson proving the most prolific of the five players to reach double figures for the visitors as he amassed 29 points. St. Vincent’s William Jenkins was just a bucket shy of that total.
The other relegated side, Maigh Cuilinn worked hard to try and sign-off on their time in the top tier with a win, but ultimately suffered an 85-79 reversal at home against Garvey’s Tralee Warriors in the Kingfisher Sports Arena.
Despite a combined 57-point total from Ivan Basic and Grant Olsson, the hosts came up short against their Kerry rivals, who were inspired by the 30 points and 12 rebounds that Elijah Weaver put up on the night.
