Defeats for South Conference’s top three in the InsureMyVan.ie Super League while Pyrobel Killester see off Portlaoise Panthers

Irish Guide Dogs Ballincollig @MTU, Maree and Garvey’s Tralee Warriors remain deadlocked at the top of the InsureMyVan.ie Super League South Conference after all three suffered reversals on Saturday, while in the MissQuote.ie Super League, Pyrobel Killester recorded a 76-56 victory on the road against Portlaoise Panthers to keep themselves in the thick of the title race.

 

Three weeks on after they broke the hearts of Irish Guide Dogs Ballincollig @MTU in the InsureMyHouse.ie Pat Duffy National Cup Final, UCC Demons left their Cork rivals nursing more wounds on the divisional front after they dished them out a 91-72 defeat in the MTU Arena on Saturday evening.

Tala Fam Thiam hit 22 points while James Hannigan and Seventh Woods each chalked up 21 as the visitors recorded a strong start and finish to this fixture.

Tala Fam Thiam celebrates UCC Demon's InsureMyHouse.ie Pat Duffy National Cup final win in the National Basketball Arena

Indeed, they headed into the second quarter with an 18-point advantage and outscored Ballincollig by 12 down the stretch despite the best efforts of Andre Nation and Shawndale Jones Jr who combined for 44.

“Today for us was all about the performance and I felt we delivered on that” said UCC Demons head coach, Daniel O’Mahony.

“I was very proud of my guys, but we need to knuckle down now and prepare for next week which will be another tough test [against Maree]" he warned.

Maree were unable to capitalise on that setback for Ballincollig and take the outright lead in the South Conference as they, themselves, suffered a 98-91 defeat at the hands of Flexachem KCYMS in Calasanctus College.

Even a huge 38-point haul by Tahmir Gadsden, who converted half of his 12 attempts from beyond the arc, was not enough to inspire Maree to victory, as Flexachem’s Kendall Jacks put up 30 while Lucas McGregor and Lovre Tvrdic, together, totalled 43.

Christian Williams held his nerve to drain two free throws at the death and clinch a dramatic 102-101 overtime victory for EJ Sligo All-Stars over Garvey’s Tralee Warriors in Mercy College.

Williams, who amassed 29 points and 14 rebounds, was instrumental in this victory for Sligo, as was top scorer, Chrishon Briggs who accounted for 31 on the night against a Tralee team that had five players in double figures by the close of proceedings, including Rapolas Buivydas (23 points).

Griffith College Éanna earned the bragging rights in their derby against near neighbours, Templeogue as they enjoyed a comprehensive 99-70 win in Coláiste Éanna.

Sean Jenkins served up 25 points for the homeside, who had opened up a gap of 24 by the half-time recess, and even a 28-point contribution by Vernon Jackson could not illuminate a way back for Templeogue.

Runaway North Conference leaders, Belfast Star put up 31 points in the first quarter alone as they recorded a 97-77 victory over Ulster University in Newforge Sports Complex.

A look at the all-new Newforge Sports Complex, Belfast Star’s new home 🏡

📺 https://t.co/HqBGMOAjRW
📱 @SwishAllHoops app for updates #BISL | #BITV pic.twitter.com/bYnyEzbu8W

— Basketball Ireland (@BballIrl) February 10, 2024

The game’s top scorer Tamyrik Fields (25 points) was among five players to finish on double figures for Belfast against their neighbouring rivals, for whom Conor Liston proved the most prolific with 21 points.

Conor Quinn’s thoughts on the new gym and Belfast Star’s win last night 🗣️#BISL | #BITV pic.twitter.com/pftNbtjnfR

— Basketball Ireland (@BballIrl) February 11, 2024

A huge second quarter, in which they amassed 40 points and outscored their opponents, Bright St. Vincent’s by 24, went a long way to seeing Pyrobel Killester storm to a 104-84 triumph in St Vincent’s CBS.

Kason Harrell served up another big display for the visitors with 38 points, while Gregorio Encarnacion mopped up 18 rebounds to help Killester emerge tops from this Dublin derby.

 

In the MissQuote.ie Super League, Pyrobel Killester returned home from St Mary’s Hall with a 76-56 victory over Portlaoise Panthers that keeps them very much in the reckoning for top-flight honours this season.

Jiselle Thomas top-scored on 28 points, while Claire Melia and Keowa Walters delivered a combined 37 points along with 21 rebounds as the Dubliners got the better of a Portlaoise side who had, only five days before, recorded a victory over DCU Mercy that could prove crucial in their bid for Super League survival.

“It’s a tough place to get a win so we’re happy enough” said Pyrobel Killester head coach, Mark Grennell.

“We were excellent at times after a slowish start. Claire was fantastic in the game and gave us that kick we needed to gain and keep control” he added.

SETU Waterford Wildcats lost more ground on the top three after they shipped a 94-81 defeat against the in-form Ulster University in Jordanstown Sports Village.

The travelling party suffered a poor start that left them trailing Ulster by 11 at the close of the first quarter and, with Delia Moore and Trinity Oliver totalling 45 points and 23 rebounds between them, the hosts held firm to make it four wins on the bounce.

Even Brynley Fitzgerald’s 27 points and 15 rebounds was not enough to prevent DCU Mercy from slipping to a 76-64 loss at Catalyst Fr. Mathews.

Shannon Brady and Ariel Johnson combined for 46 points while Grainne Dwyer weighed in with an additional 19 and 13 rebounds, as the Cork side pulled clear in the final quarter, outscoring their guests by 16 down the stretch.

A disappointing first half in which they put up only 23 points saw University of Galway Mystics ultimately undone 83-70 by Trinity Meteors in Claregalway Secondary School.

Sarah Kenny, Grace Prenter and Yvette Adriaans each netted 17 points to help counter the combined 54 that Emma Glavin, Shannon Cunningham and Kara McCleane put up for Galway.

 

In the InsureMyVan.ie Division One, Drogheda Wolves lead the way in the North Conference after they recorded an 86-80 win on the road over Joels Dublin Lions. Kavanagh’s Portlaoise Panthers continue to snap at their heels after they saw off Team NorthWest 74-65. UCD Marian won out 88-71 away to Mater Private Malahide while Moy Tolka Rovers also kept themselves very much in the reckoning in this group after they finished strongly to beat Limerick Sport Eagles 94-86 in UL Arena. SETU Carlow and Limerick Celtics remain deadlocked at the summit of the South Conference after the former accounted for Titans BC (101-77) in Barrow Centre before Limerick saw of Killarney Cougars 101-87 in Presentation Gym. Scotts Lakers Killarney edged a 77-73 victory over SETU Waterford Vikings in Killarney Sports & Leisure Centre.

 

In the MissQuote.ie Division One, iSecure Swords Thunder moved to within one game of the North Conference title after they beat Oblate Dynamos 86-73 in ALSAA before their closest challengers Templeogue chalked up a 79-70 victory over Phoenix Rockets in the National Basketball Arena. South Conference winners, St Paul’s Killarney showed no signs of taking their foot off the gas as they beat Moy Tolka Rovers 64-55 in Killarney Sports & Leisure Centre, while McEvoy’s Cavan Eagles earned an 88-74 win over Abbey Seals Dublin Lions in the Virgina Show Centre and SETU Carlow picked up their second win of the season when they beat fellow strugglers Marble City Hawks 93-79 in O’Loughlin Gaels GAA Club.

Results

InsureMyVan.ie Super League

Saturday February 10th

Irish Guide Dogs Ballincollig @MTU 72 - 91 UCC Demons

Belfast Star 97 - 77 Ulster University

Griffith College Éanna 99 - 70 Templeogue

Maree 91 - 98 Flexachem KCYMS

Bright St. Vincent’s 84 - 104 Pyrobel Killester

EJ Sligo All-Stars 102 - 101 Garvey’s Tralee Warriors

Sunday February 11th

Maigh Cuilinn 60 - 70 Energywise Ireland Neptune

 

Miss Quote.ie Super League

Saturday February 10th

University of Galway Mystics 70 - 83 Trinity Meteors

Catalyst Fr. Mathews 76 - 64 DCU Mercy

Ulster University 94 - 81 SETU Waterford Wildcats

Portlaoise Panthers 56 - 76 Pyrobel Killester

Sunday February 11th

Gurranabraher Credit Union Brunell 69 - 79 The Address UCC Glanmire

 

InsureMyVan.ie Division One

Saturday February 10th

SETU Carlow 101 - 77 Titans BC

Scotts Lakers Killarney 77 - 73 SETU Waterford Vikings

Team NorthWest 65 - 74 Kavanagh’s Portlaoise Panthers

Joels Dublin Lions 80 - 86 Drogheda Wolves

Mater Private Malahide 71 - 88 UCD Marian

Killarney Cougars 87 - 101 Limerick Celtics

Limerick Sport Eagles 86 - 94 Moy Tolka Rovers

 

MissQuote.ie Division One

Saturday February 10th

McEvoy’s Cavan Eagles 88 - 74 Abbey Seals Dublin Lions

iSecure Swords Thunder 86 - 73 Oblate Dynamos

Templeogue 79 - 70 Phoenix Rockets

Marble City Hawks 79 - 93 SETU Carlow

St. Paul’s Killarney 64 - 55 Moy Tolka Rovers

Sunday February 11th

Limerick Celtics 84 - 56 Limerick Sport Huskies

Fixtures

InsureMyVan.ie Super League

Saturday February 17th

Irish Guide Dogs Ballincollig @MTU vs Garvey’s Tralee Warriors, MTU Arena, 1600

Ulster University vs Bright St. Vincent’s, Jordanstown Sports Village, 1715

Templeogue vs Belfast Star, National Basketball Arena, 1900

Maree vs UCC Demons, Kingfisher Arena, 1900

Flexachem KCYMS vs Energywise Ireland Neptune, Killorglin Sports Complex, 1915

Pyrobel Killester vs EJ Sligo All-Stars, IWA, 1930

Sunday February 18th

Maigh Cuilinn vs Griffith College Éanna, Kingfisher Sports Arena, 1500

 

Miss Quote.ie Super League

Saturday February 17th

Pyrobel Killester vs University of Galway Mystics, IWA, 1645

Trinity Meteors vs Ulster University, Coláiste Íosagáin, 1730

Portlaoise Panthers vs Catalyst Fr. Mathews, St Mary’s Hall, 1800

Sunday February 18th

The Address UCC Glanmire vs FloMAX Liffey Celtics, 1430

DCU Mercy vs Gurranabraher Credit Union Brunell, DCU Arena, 1430

 

InsureMyVan.ie Division One

Saturday February 17th

UCD Marian vs Moy Tolka Rovers, UCD Sports Centre, 1900

Limerick Sport Eagles vs Killarney Cougars, UL Arena, 1900

Limerick Celtics vs Titans BC, Crescent College, 1915

Drogheda Wolves vs Mater Private Malahide, Ballymakenny College, 1930

Scotts Lakers Killarney vs Team NorthWest, Killarney Sports & Leisure Centre, 1930

Kavanagh’s Portlaoise Panthers vs Joels Dublin Lions, St Mary’s Hall, 2000

Sunday February 18th

SETU Carlow vs SETU Waterford Vikings, Barrow Centre, 1300

 

MissQuote.ie Division One

Saturday February 17th

St Paul’s Killarney vs Limerick Sport Huskies, Aura, 1630

Limerick Celtics vs SETU Carlow, Crescent College, 1645

Abbey Seals Dublin Lions vs Phoenix Rockets, Coláiste Bríde, 1730

iSecure Swords Thunder vs McEvoy’s Cavan Eagles, ALSAA, 1730

Moy Tolka Rovers vs Marble City Hawks, Tolka Rovers Sports Complex, 1800

Oblate Dynamos vs Templeogue, Oblate Hall, 1900