Business as usual for unbeaten Limerick Celtics and ND Audit Portlaoise Panthers while Cleveland Rockets make it four wins on the bounce

It was business as usual for Men’s Division One North and South Conference leaders, ND Audit Portlaoise Panthers and Limerick Celtics as they both extended their unbeaten runs with respective top-of-the-table wins over Moy Tolka Rovers (96-81) and Scotts Lakers Killarney (106-70) on Saturday night. In Women’s Division One, Cleveland Rockets made it four wins on the bounce, beating Oblate Dynamos 91-61 in Lisburn Racquets Club to move into a share of second place in the table. 

This week’s round of Men’s Division One fixtures served up top-of-the table encounters in both the North and South conferences, with respective leaders ND Audit Portlaoise Panthers and Limerick Celtics both extending their unbeaten runs.

Portlaoise stormed to a 96-81 victory away to Moy Tolka Rovers on Saturday night, with five players ending the game in double figures, including Eric Anderson (20 points), James Phelan (19) and Xabier Arriaga (18), while no less than seven players figured among the 17 three-pointers that the visitors converted on the night.

Emiliyan Grudov served up a game-high 22 points for Tolka, who, themselves, saw four players into doubles by the final buzzer, but it was not enough to deny the visitors their eighth straight victory of the campaign.

“I’m delighted with the win” said Jack Scully, Portlaoise head coach. “Offensively we had five players in double figures, which shows the depth in the squad and, defensively, we had a plan that, at times, was really effective.”

South Conference leaders, Limerick Celtics carded an even more emphatic 106-70 triumph at home to Scotts Lakers Killarney in Crescent College.

A devastating second-quarter performance in which they outgunned the visitors by 22 points, proved a key period for Limerick who saw three players card more than 20 points, namely Finn Hughes (26), Ariyon Williams (25) and Abdul Wurie (23).

Mikah Blackwell drained all, but one, of his 14 free throws on his way to a 29-point total, but even that could not inspire Killarney to a more ardent stand against the table toppers.

Mater Private Malahide ended Team NorthWest’s three-game winning streak after they ran out 81-70 victors in Malahide Community School.

Looking to bounce back from their three-point loss to Titans the week before, Malahide confined NorthWest to a mere seven points in the opening quarter as they established a 22-point cushion by the half-time recess, Murray Hendry emerging from this game with 18 points, 18 rebounds and six assists.

Titans boasted five players in double digits as they stormed to an 89-66 success against Tipp Talons in Ballinfoyle Castlegar Centre.

Joseph Coughlan and Viktor Tashev each finished up on 17 for the hosts, while Michael Hayes emerged with 12 points and as many rebounds to his name.

Maigh Cuilinn took every quarter on their way to a 110-81 victory over SETU Waterford Vikings in Sportlann Naomh Ann, subsequently ending a run of four defeats in league and cup competition for the Galway outfit.

Aaron Jackson top scored on 29 points for Waterford, but the homeside were equipped with their own big hitters in the likes of Aitor Munoz and Antonio Calvente who combined for 52 points on the night.

Limerick Sport Eagles weathered a fourth quarter surge by Killarney Cougars to take an 93-87 road win when the two sides clashed in Presentation Gym.

Fuelled by the 48 points amassed by Ignacio Folgueiras and Alexander Carlisle, Limerick ended the third quarter with an 18-point advantage, but were forced to stave off a late advance by Killarney, for whom Gerdas Malukas, Kani Glover and Joshua Strongman put up a huge 75 total.

A big opening quarter display by Drogheda Wolves set the stage for their 98-88 win over Carrick Cruisers in Ballymakenny College.

The hosts carried a 13-point advantage into the second period and, aided by the huge 35 points and 22 rebounds that Christian Simmons recorded on the night, they managed to hold off a tenacious Carrick team, for whom Shamus Kahl totalled a game-high 36.

Conor Liston drained all, but one of his seven efforts from beyond the arc on his way to a game-high 24 points as Ulster University ran out 89-71 winners at home to Joels Dublin Lions in the lone Friday night Men’s Division One fixture.

Curtis Larousse also made his presence felt for the hosts in Jordanstown Sports Village with a haul of 19 points and 13 rebounds to help his side move to 4 and 4 in the table.

 

In Women’s Division One, Cleveland Rockets made it four wins on the bounce after they ran out emphatic 91-61 winners over Oblate Dynamos in Lisburn Racquets Club on Saturday afternoon.

Jessica Fairweather chalked up another big display with 21 points, eight rebounds and five assists, while Caitlin Gloeckner and Georgie McGrath combined for a further 30 points for the homeside, who put up their second highest game total of the campaign so far.

“I’m delighted with our team performance against Oblates” smiled Cleveland Rockets head coach, Breda Dick.

“All 10 players contributed to the win, shooting an amazing 59% from the floor. We’ve gone from strength to strength over the past four weeks to make it four wins in a row” she added.

Abbey Seals Dublin Lions edged a 65-63 win over iSecure Swords Thunder in Coláiste Bríde, despite managing to put up only six points in the final quarter.

The Clondalkin side appeared to be coasting to victory after opening up an 18-point advantage deep into the third quarter, but with the help of Makayla Miller, who amassed a game-best 36 points, Swords battled their way back to lead by three midway through the fourth.

And it was only late free throws by Sofia Paska, who totalled 23 points on the night, that saw Lions anchor down to scrape the win.

“Hats off to a Swords Thunder team that never backed down or gave up” said Martin Conroy, Dublin Lions head coach.

“I’m hugely proud of our women. Having been up 18 points up at one stage we could have easily collapsed when Thunder took the lead in the final quarter, but our girls showed real courage and character to get us over the line” he remarked.

It’s now five from five for McEvoy’s Cavan Eagles in Women’s Division One after they produced a big performance at both ends of the court to card a comprehensive 80-50 triumph over Templeogue in the National Basketball Arena.

The current leaders boasted no less than five players in double figures by the close of proceedings, Rahmena Henderson and Lanetta Williams chalking up 37 points between them, while also combining with Niamh Tolan for 29 rebounds, as Templeogue were confined to their lowest game total of the campaign so far.

Moy Tolka Rovers recouped some ground in the fourth quarter, but not enough to avoid an 87-80 reversal at the hands of Limerick Sport Huskies.

Delia Moore served up a huge 31 points for the visitors to Tolka, while Sophie Moore and Scout Frame weighed in with a further 23 apiece, the latter soaking up 15 rebounds to boot.