Belfast Star kept their advantage at the summit of the Domino's Men’s Super League with an 84-80 victory over UCD Marian on Saturday. New signing Shane Dezonie led the way for Star with 24 points, after Irish international Rapolas Buivydas received an ejection from the game.
Marian took their biggest lead of the game in at half-time with a 53-30 lead at the break. Bruce Saintilus and Tanner Graham combined for 59 points in the game. Marian also entered the fourth with a 17-point lead, however a 34-13 final quarter from the league leaders gave Star their 16th victory of the season.
Star remain one win ahead of Ballincollig, after the Cork side won both of their games this weekend. For Marian, they are 9-11 and sit in sixth after the defeat, one win off of St. Vincent’s in fifth.
After defeating local rivals UCC Demons on Thursday, Ballincollig kept the momentum rolling with a 117-104 triumph over EJ Sligo All-Stars on Saturday. What will be a major cause of concern for Ballincollig will be the health of Latavious Mitchell, who picked up an injury in the opening moments in the second quarter and did not return.
Latrell Jossell followed up his 34-point game on Thursday, with a 20-point game against Sligo. Josh Steel led the way with 25 points. For All-Stars, it was Jordan Hinds, who had a game-high 27 points, with Elijah Lawrence also scoring 23. A 39-point third quarter gave Ballincollig a 23-point lead heading into the fourth and despite a 37-point final period for Sligo, they ultimately fell to a 13th defeat of the season. Ballincollig are now 15-5 for the season.
Killester slipped further away from the top of the table, following a 72-58 home loss to Garvey’s Tralee Warriors. Killester carried a ten-point lead into the final quarter of play, but a 26-2 fourth quarter in favour of Warriors completely turned the game on its head and gave Warriors the victory. Robert Braswell was the leading scorer for Killester, scoring 27 points. But it was the Warriors trio of Irshaad Hunte, Jordan Perkins and Daniel Jokubaitis running the show, Hunte scoring 15, Perkins with 18 and Jokubaitis adding 16 in the win.
Limerick Celtics secured a vital 96-91 victory over playoff rivals UCC Demons after a huge second-half comeback. Celtics are now alone in taking up the final playoff spot in the table, with a game in hand over Demons to be played during the international break next weekend where they will face Garvey's Tralee Warriors. Should Celtics win next weekend, it would all but confirm a playoff berth for Celtics in their first season playing in the Domino's Men's Super League.
Killester fall to third with a record of 14-6, while Warriors are now 9-9 for the season, however, they do hold two games in hand on the rest of sides around them.
Energywise Ireland Neptune’s relegation worries were heightened after suffering a 121-114 loss to St Vincent’s. Vincent’s are now up to fifth with an even 10-10 record, just one win off Éanna in fourth, however Éanna hold a game in hand over Vincent’s. Neptune remain bottom of the table with five wins, with just three games left to play.
Flexachem KCYMS also missed an opportunity to move away from the relegation spot after losing 79-75 to Griffith College Éanna on Saturday evening. Jordan Blount was just one rebound away from a triple-double performance, scoring 24 points and getting 10 assists for Killorglin. Jaylyn Richardson scored a game-high 28 points for Éanna.
Éanna maintain control on the final home court playoff spot, in fourth, one win ahead of UCD Marian and Vincent’s. For Killorglin, they keep a one-game cushion ahead of Neptune at the foot of the table, but will be watching over their shoulder for the next three games.
Utility Trust St Paul's Killarney defeated Killester 72-66 in a top-of-the-table clash in the Domino's Women’s Super League. A double-double performance from Maisie Burnham pushed Killarney over the line, as she scored 20 points and got 10 rebounds in the victory. Tara Cousins, Leah McMahon and Lovisa Hevinder all scored double digits for Killarney, as they retook the lead in the fourth quarter at 64-61 with four minutes left and didn't look back.
The loss sees Killester fall behind St Paul's at the summit, despite a strong 18-point game from Michelle Clarke. St Paul's are 13-3 for the season after the win that will give them huge momentum heading into the playoffs.
UCC Glanmire took home a vital 97-94 overtime victory over Trinity Meteors on Saturday through a massive 42-point game from Jewel Watkins. Gurranabraher Credit Union Brunell took a major step towards a home playoff berth, with an 87-73 victory over Catalyst Fr Mathews in the Fr. Mathews Arena on Saturday. Laila Blair had 30 points for Fr Mathews in the defeat, only usurped by Brailyn Joseph, who had 32 for Brunell.
FloMAX Liffey Celtics picked up a crucial 82-75 victory over McEvoy’s Cavan Eagles in the fight for position. Eagles now sit in eighth with a record of 7-9, one win back from Meteors and Celtics. Liffey are now 8-8 for the season in sixth, looking to move to fifth before we enter the playoff season.
SETU Waterford Wildcats enjoyed a 27-point triumph over Midlands Park Portlaoise Panthers in Mercy College. The 82-55 win was Wildcats third consecutive win in the league. It puts Wildcats ahead of Eagles in the table at eight wins, to Cavan’s seven. Panthers remain second from bottom with a record of 2-13 for the season.
