SETU Waterford Wildcats deal near-fatal blow to Gurranabraher Credit Union Brunell’s title hopes while Griffith College Éanna see off Maree

An 84-69 loss at the hands of SETU Waterford Wildcats in Mercy Gym on Saturday made it four defeats in their last five MissQuote.ie Super League fixtures for Gurranabraher Credit Union Brunell, while in the InsureMyVan.ie Super League, Griffith College Éanna carded a 79-62 victory over South Conference leaders, Maree.

Gurranabraher Credit Union Brunell’s prospects of landing this season’s MissQuote.ie Super League title were left hanging by a thread after they suffered an 84-69 reversal at the hands of SETU Waterford Wildcats in Mercy Gym on Saturday.

Jade Compton put up 26 points, 10 rebounds and nine assists for the hosts, while Sarah Hickey contributed a further 16 points and 11 rebounds, as Waterford inflicted, on their Cork rivals, a fourth defeat in their last five league outings.

 SETU Waterford Wildcats Head Coach, Tommy O'Mahony

Delighted with his side’s display on Saturday, SETU Waterford Wildcats head coach, Tommy O’Mahony said “It was a real team performance, getting four players in double digits.

“Defensively I thought it was one of our better performances and we managed to limit some of their threats.

“We have two big games next weekend and we are up for that challenge to finish the league on a high” he insisted.

Jiselle Thomas served up 26 points, while Michelle Clarke drained five of her eight attempts from the three-point line on her way to a total of 22 as Pyrobel Killester recorded a comprehensive 98-64 triumph at home against DCU Mercy on Friday night.

 DCU Mercy player Hannah Thornton in action for the Irish senior national team

Hannah Thornton and Brynley Fitzgerald, between them, put up 47 points for the visitors, but even that was not enough to prevent the MissQuote.ie Super League leaders from storming to victory, helped no end by the 20 points and 13 rebounds that Keowa Walters contributed to their cause.

Ulster University preserved their hopes of Champions Trophy qualification after they recorded a big 107-90 victory over fellow contenders, Catalyst Fr. Mathews in Jordanstown Sports Village on Saturday afternoon.

The home side put up a huge 69 points in the first and third quarters combined as Ance Aizsila and Trinity Oliver accounted for 43 points between them, with the latter also soaking up 12 rebounds against a Fr. Mathews side, for whom Grainne Dwyer emerged top scorer on 32.

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Griffith College Éanna took another big scalp on the homestretch 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.

 Griffith College Éanna head coach, Darren McGovern

“When our support gets behind us, it helps us a lot. We’ll now re-group on Monday and prep for a trip to Belfast to finish the regular season” he added.

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.

Flexachem KCYMS closed in on the one remaining play-off spot up for grabs in the InsureMyVan.ie Super League following their 86-73 victory away to Bright St. Vincent’s

Kendall Jacks emerged the game’s top scorer on 24 points, while Terry Winn weighed in with 16 points and 13 rebounds to help make it four wins on the bounce for Flexachem.

“We didn't play the best version of ourselves with a lot of sloppy turnovers in the game” admitted Flexachem KCYMS head coach, Declan Wall.

“But we dug deep to grind out the win against a St. Vincent’s team fighting for Super League status” he added.

Belfast Star left UCC Demons on the brink of falling short of the play-offs after they ran out 101-84 winners over their Cork opponents in Newforge Sports Complex.

 Belfast Star's De Ondre Jackson in action

De Ondre Jackson turned in another colossal performance for the InsureMyVan.ie Super League 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 ran-out 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.

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 St Paul’s Killarney can look forward to a return to the top ranks of Irish women’s basketball next season after they recorded a 71-48 victory over iSecure Swords Thunder in Saturday’s Division One Final in the National Basketball Arena. Sofia Paska and Khiarica Rasheed delivered a total of 41 points for the Kerry side, while Lorraine Scanlon was immense under the boards with 15 rebounds.

A recap of yesterday's celebrations following St. Paul's Killarney's win over iSecure Swords Thunder to secure promotion to the https://t.co/lDZHntGfas Super League👇#BID1 | @missquoteie pic.twitter.com/VoluZm1ocr

— Basketball Ireland (@BballIrl) March 10, 2024

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In the InsureMyVan.ie Division One, a huge three-point buzzer beater by Francisco Dias saw Drogheda Wolves snatch a dramatic 94-93 victory at home against Kavanagh’s Portlaoise Panthers in Saturday night’s North Conference top-of-the-table clash. UCD Marian’s 112-77 win at home to Team NorthWest means there are now three teams tied at the top of that group. Despite a 94-74 reversal at the hands of Limerick Sport Eagles in the UL Arena, Scotts Lakers Killarney still earned a play-off berth, thanks to a 93-74 defeat for their closest rivals, SETU Waterford Vikings at home against Killarney Cougars in Carrickpherish Hall. Joels Dublin Lions pipped Moy Tolka Rovers 86-84 in their Dublin derby in Tolka Rovers Sports Complex, while Mater Private Malahide ran out 87-77 winners over Titans BC in Malahide Community School.

Outrageous 👏@WolvesDrogheda https://t.co/o0MITuCFOs

— Basketball Ireland (@BballIrl) March 10, 2024