Utility Trust St Pauls won away today in the Dominos Women’s Super League, 73-62 against Brunell. Enda Walshe reports
Garvey’s Tralee Warriors lost 58-52 at Claregalway in the Quarter Final of the Women’s Basketball Ireland Development League.
Basketball Ireland weekend review
Killester claimed a dominant 28-point win at Belfast Star in the Domino’s Men’s Super League, which saw Ballincollig overtake Star at the top of the table, after the Cork side defeated Flexachem KCYMS 107-80. Balllincollig and Belfast Star have matching 16-5 records ahead of the final regular season weekend, while Killester are just one game behind them with a 15-6 record.
Energywise Ireland Neptune picked up a vital 89-71 victory at Garvey’s Tralee Warriors in the fight for survival, moving level with Flexachem KCYMS on 6-14 records, with both having two games remaining this season. EJ Sligo All-Stars won 118-109 against UCC Demons to keep them in the playoff hunt, Griffith College Éanna defeated Limerick Celtics 87-72 and UCD Marian improved their playoff seeding, following a 92-83 Dublin derby win at St. Vincent’s.
Irish international Rapolas Buivydas proved to be sorely missed for Belfast Star, as they fell off the top of the Domino’s Men’s Super League table following their 93-65 home defeat to Killester. Killester had five players in double digits for scoring, along with Baptiste Chazelas getting a 12-point, 13-rebound double-double. Killester started fast in the first quarter, with a big three from Robert Braswell building a 13-point lead late in the first, at 27-14. With just 25 points in the second half, Star struggled to get anything going without Buivydas.
Ballincollig pounced on Star’s error, moving into first following a 107-80 win over Flexachem KCYMS. Two of Killorglin’s starters in Marquez Ellis and Rami Ghanem fouled out, despite positive showings from both. A 35-point final quarter saw Ballincollig finally stretch away from the visitors, after a tough back and forth affair. Latavious Mitchell continued to be a difference maker, scoring 27 and adding nine rebounds in the win. Josh Steel also added 22 for Ballincollig.
Energywise Ireland Neptune kept their season well and truly alive with an 89-71 win over Garvey’s Tralee Warriors, who are yet to confirm the last playoff place. A 26-12 opening quarter put the Cork side well on their way to victory, as Michael Hayes scored eight of his team-high 31 points in the first. Samuel Henderson also scored 26, as they outduelled the Warriors duo of Irshaad Hunte and Jordan Perkins, who scored 32 points together.
Neptune are now level with Killorglin on wins, however Killorglin hold the head-to-head advantage. Neptune conclude the season by host UCD Marian on Saturday 14th, followed by a trip to Griffith College Éanna on Monday 16th to complete an abandoned game, which was halted with Éanna 22-4 up in the first quarter. Flexachem KCYMS travel to Garvey’s Tralee Warriors for a Kerry derby on Wednesday, concluding with a trip to Limerick Celtics on Saturday. John Dowling’s Warriors are not safe in the playoffs yet, they have a game in hand, but are just one win up on EJ Sligo All-Stars, who hold the head-to-head advantage should the final playoff spot need to be decided that way.
EJ Sligo All-Stars became the only side left outside the playoff places that can finish in the top eight after defeating fellow playoff hunters UCC Demons 118-109 in Mercy College. RJ Etyle-Rock and Elijah Lawrence put on playoff-worthy showings, scoring 31 and 32 points respectively. Jordan Washington did well to carry the load for Demons in the absence of Tamyrik Fields, who suffered a season-ending injury against Limerick Celtics. Latest Demons debutant, Andres Rivera, scored 16 in his maiden game.
Sligo are 8-13 for the season, one win off of Warriors, but have an extra game played. Demons are officially eliminated from playoff contention after suffering their 14th defeat of the season.
Griffith College Éanna officially sealed their spot in fourth for the final home court spot, thanks to an 87-72 victory over Limerick Celtics. Jaylyn Richardson led the way for Éanna with 25 points, but had big help from the bench, with Neil Lynch adding 20 points in 19 minutes. AJ Williams had his fourth 30+ point game of the season, to extend his lead at the top of the points scoring table for players across the league, having a 36-point game for Celtics in the defeat.
Éanna are 12-8 for the season, set in fourth position. It is looking like they will face one of UCD Marian or St. Vincent’s in the opening round of the playoffs. For Celtics, their fate of being in the playoffs is all but sealed as they sit in seventh, currently projected to head to Belfast Star.
St. Vincent’s fell to an 11th loss of the season after seeing defeat against UCD Marian 83-92 in Glasnevin. Marian had three players score at least 20 points in the win, with Ronan Byrne and Bruce Saintilus scoring 22 each but it was Tanner Graham leading the way for Marian with 25 points and 11 rebounds.
Vincent’s have been overtaken by Marian following the loss, falling to sixth position in the table with a week to go. Marian are now fifth, with a record of 10-11, the same as Vincent’s, however they hold the head-to-head record as the playoff season approaches.
Killester secured a 1st place finish in the Domino’s Women’s Super League regular season, thanks to a 77-73 win over SETU Waterford Wildcats. Utility Trust St. Paul’s Killarney finished second, but with the same 14-4 record, however Killester had the superior head-to-head, which determined top spot.
Utility Trust St. Paul’s won 73-62 at Gurranabraher Credit Union Brunell, which meant the Cork side fell out of the top four. Trinity Meteors claimed fourth and a home quarter-final in the playoffs, after picking up an 85-64 triumph over Midlands Park Portlaoise Panthers. UCC Glanmire finished third, completing the regular season with an 87-78 road win at McEvoy’s Cavan Eagles. FloMAX Liffey Celtics defeated Catalyst Fr. Mathews 76-62.
Audrey Roden led the way for Killester with 27 points for Killester in their 77-73 win over SETU Waterford Wildcats on Saturday evening. The biggest lead from either side was nine points, with the lead exchanging hands on ten separate occasions. Wildcats trio Sarah Hickey, Tiarra Brown and Ayssa Frescas combined for 56 points. Wildcats had the chance to finish fourth if they’d won, but ended the regular season in sixth and will travel to UCC Glanmire for their quarter-final playoff, while Killester will take on 8th-placed McEvoy’s Cavan Eagles in the last eight.
Utility Trust St. Paul’s confirmed second spot with a 73-62 triumph over Gurranabraher Credit Union Brunell, who slipped out of the top four on the final day. Maisie Burnham, Tara Cousins and Lovisa Havinder combined for 55 points for Killarney in what proved to be a convincing win, where they held the lead from the opening minute of the game until the final buzzer sounded in GCU Arena Parochial Hall.
Utility Trust St. Paul’s Killarney will welcome FloMAX Liffey Celtics in the quarter-finals, while Brunell will now have to travel to Trinity Meteors in the last eight next week.
UCC Glanmire did their best to put pressure on the top two, after defeating McEvoy’s Cavan Eagles. Glanmire proved dominant, keeping their lead from the opening moments of the first quarter until the final buzzer went. Jewel Watkins continued her string of stellar performances with 35 points for Glanmire, following 41 and 42 point games in Watkins’ previous two performances. Viane Cumber added 23 for Glanmire.
Kylie Horstmeyer and Irish international Hazel Finn scored a combined 41 points, as Trinity Meteors overtook SETU Waterford Wildcats and Brunell in the final round of games after a 21-point, 85-64 triumph over Midlands Park Portlaoise Panthers. Horstmeyer shot an efficient 10-14 from open play with Finn adding five rebounds and eight assists. Panthers had been locked in to finish in ninth since last weekend, when Fr. Mathews’ relegation was confirmed.
FloMAX Liffey Celtics enjoyed a 76-62 victory over Catalyst Fr. Mathews, who have finished the season winless. Brooke Kane scored 24 points for Celtics, along with 11 rebounds, as Liffey picked up a win to gain some momentum as the playoffs approach in two weeks’ time.
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Results
Domino’s Men’s Super League
Saturday 7th March
Ballincollig 107-80 Flexachem KCYMS
Belfast Star 65-93 Killester
Griffith College Éanna 87-72 Limerick Celtics
Garvey’s Tralee Warriors 71-89 Energywise Ireland Neptune
St. Vincent’s 83-92 UCD Marian
EJ Sligo All-Stars 118-109 UCC Demons
Domino’s Women’s Super League
Saturday 7th March
McEvoy’s Cavan Eagles 78-87 UCC Glanmire
Killester 77-73 SETU Waterford Wildcats
Trinity Meteors 85-64 Midlands Park Portlaoise Panthers
FloMAX Liffey Celtics 76-62 Catalyst Fr. Mathews
Sunday 8th March
Gurranabraher Credit Union Brunell 62-73 Utility Trust St. Paul’s Killarney
Domino’s Men’s Division One
Saturday 7th March
Dublin Lions 85-79 Limerick Sport Eagles
Maigh Cuilinn 85-73 Malahide
Tipp Talons 84-100 Moy Tolka Rovers
Titans BC 81-70 Templeogue
ND Audit Portlaoise Panthers 101-90 Team Northwest
SPK Utility Trust Lakers 72-83 Drogheda Wolves
Killarney Cougars 70-92 Ulster University
Carrick Cruisers 85-74 Maree
Domino’s Women’s Division One
Saturday 7th March
Abbey Seals Dublin Lions 58-84 Limerick Sport Huskies
Dublin Raiders 70-61 Cleveland Rockets
Moy Tolka Rovers 62-54 Swords Thunder
Clunetech Kilkenny Stars 55-68 Limerick Celtics
Sunday 8th March
University of Galway Mystics 60-76 Templeogue
