Killester, FloMax Liffey Celtics and SETU Waterford Wildcats remain tied at the top while Garvey’s Tralee Warriors suffer first loss

FloMAX Liffey Celtics, SETU Waterford Wildcats and defending champions, Killester remain deadlocked at the top of the Women’s Super League table after all three teams carded wins on Saturday night, while Men’s Super League leaders, Garvey’s Tralee Warriors suffered their first reversal of the 2024/25 season after they went down 98-90 against EJ Sligo All-Stars in Mercy College.

FloMAX Liffey Celtics may not have been at their best offensively, but they still did enough to record a 67-49 victory over Women’s Super League rivals, Gurranabraher Credit Union Brunell in Leixlip on Saturday night.

Alexis Tucker and Eboni Williams managed 28 points between, but it was defence that really won this game for the Kildare side, Rachel Huijsdens, along with the aforementioned American pair, delivering a big display under the boards, despite Deaja Richardson top-scoring on 25 for the visitors.

“I’m delighted with the result, but it was a really sloppy performance” admitted Liffey Celtics head coach, Karl Kilbride.

“We haven’t played in three weeks with the bye in the cup and the international break, and it showed.

“On offence we were really sloppy, but, at the same time, we held a good team below 50. We were really good defensively and it was just a bit unfortunate that we didn’t reward ourselves” he said.

Defending champions, Killester confined Midlands Park Portlaoise Panthers to a mere 18 points over the middle two quarters to exert a tight grip on their clash, running out 76-55 victors in St. Mary’s Hall on Saturday night.

Just a solitary point separated the two sides at the close of the first quarter, but by the start of the fourth, that gap had swollen to 29, the Dublin side finishing with four players in double figures, including top scorer, Ieva Bagdanaviciene on 23.

SETU Waterford Wildcats came through a huge test at home against Trinity Meteors, running out 91-86 winners in Mercy College, to keep pace with Killester and FloMax Liffey Celtics at the summit.

Wildcats push on for the win! 🐺

SETU Waterford Wildcats 91-86 Trinity Meteors#BISL | #BITV pic.twitter.com/m51UcLjUyB

— Basketball Ireland (@BballIrl) November 16, 2024

Deadlocked with just under three minutes remaining, this battle saw Waterford demonstrate great resolve down the stretch as Sarah Hickey, Ashia McCalla and Chelsea Cain served up late buckets to help see their side over the line.

All three players, along with Kate Hickey, exceeded 20 points, with Sarah Hickey and Cain soaking up a total of 25 rebounds, as Wildcats survived in the face of tenacious Trinity who were fuelled largely by the combined 57 points that Morgan Lenahan, Grace Prenter and Emma Merriweather totalled in this fixture.

“We’re delighted to get the win on home soil” said Wildcats head coach, Jillian Hayes. “It was a really tough game of basketball that came down to the wire.

“I wasn't happy with our defensive performance tonight. We’re better than that, but we had a couple of players really step up in the last few minutes to get it over the line for us, with four players all having over 20 points. We’ll take it and hopefully improve defensively for next week” she added.

The Address UCC Glanmire lead the chasing pack after they recorded a 76-56 road win over Catalyst Fr. Mathews.

Callie Cavanaugh emerged the game’s top scorer on 26, with Aine McKenna and Annaliese Murphy tagging on a further 33 as Glanmire carded their third win of the campaign.

The first round of fixtures in another double-game weekend in the Men’s Super League served up a shock result as EJ Sligo All-Stars inflicted, on Garvey’s Tralee Warriors, their first loss of the season, Shane O’Meara’s men running out 98-90 winners in Mercy College on Saturday night.

Despite Brandon Mahan hitting a game-high 27 points for the current leaders, who were shorn the services of American point guard, Marquavian Stephens, the hosts held out, with five players in double figures, including Jonathan Brown and Jevonnie Scott on a total of 44.

“We were delighted to get over the line against Tralee” smiled Shane O’Meara, EJ Sligo head coach. “They came ready to play despite missing Stephens, but we had a great spread of scoring with selfless play, along with a very frugal defence.

“We've had a few losses that we felt we left behind this year and hopefully tonight is the kick-start to a better run of form for us” he added.

For the third game in succession, Griffith College Éanna were taken to overtime and prevailed, two of those wins coming against Belfast Star, whom they edged out 103-100 in Newforge Sports Complex on Saturday night.

The defending champions saw the 13-point advantage they enjoyed early in the fourth quarter wiped out, as Belfast drew level at 91-91 only to be pipped in overtime, during which Kristijan Andabaka hit six points.

“Winning in overtime is always hard fought, but I think our guys were very gutsy and dug deep” remarked Darren McGovern, Griffith College Éanna head coach.

“Credit to Star, they hit us with a big run in the fourth quarter, but I'm very happy with how the team stuck by each other and rallied for a big win” he smiled.

Eánna come out on top in overtime again! 😮‍💨

Belfast Star 100-103 Griffith College Éanna#BISL | #BITV pic.twitter.com/Ux7Jz3khsE

— Basketball Ireland (@BballIrl) November 16, 2024

A huge opening quarter in which they outgunned their opponents by 18 points set the stage for UCC Demons’ 102-86 success against the struggling Templeogue in the National Basketball Arena on Saturday evening, Elijah Tillman carding 22 points and 17 rebounds for the winners.

UCC Demons take a commanding lead into the break against Templeogue 💪

Templeogue 31-56 UCC Demons #BISL | #BITV pic.twitter.com/dXI2RSLwCq

— Basketball Ireland (@BballIrl) November 16, 2024

Killester picked up a big 98-67 win on the road against Energywise Ireland Neptune, Isiah Dasher and Kason Harrell putting up a total of 45 points for the Dublin side.

Flexachem KCYMS ended a run of four straight defeats in the top tier with a 103-72 success against Bright St. Vincent’s in Killorglin Sports Complex, Jeffery Okeke emerging top scorer on 31.

 

In Men’s Division One, Tipp Talons finally got off the mark following their emphatic 100-64 victory over Killarney Cougars in Scoil Ruain on Saturday night. At the top end of the table, ND Audit Portlaoise Panthers edged a 96-93 win away to Drogheda Wolves in Ballymakenny College to draw level with Limerick Celtics at the summit. Moy Tolka Rovers emerged 112-87 winners over Joels Dublin Lions in Coláiste Bríde, while Scotts Lakers Killarney carded an 84-77 triumph at home to Maigh Cuilinn. Limerick Sport Eagles returned home from Carrickpherish Hall celebrating a 92-81 win over SETU Waterford Vikings, while Mater Private Malahide saw off Ulster University 84-73 and Team NorthWest battled back from 13 points down to beat Carrick Cruisers 76-69 in ATU Donegal.

 

Moy Tolka Rovers picked up their second win in Women’s Division One as they saw off Templeogue 81-74 at home on Saturday night. iSecure Swords Thunder returned to winning ways in the league as they chalked up a 72-64 success over Limerick Celtics in ALSAA, while Cleveland Rockets prevailed 75-68 at home to Limerick Sport Huskies in Lisburn.