Big weekend wins for Killester men and women as SETU Waterford Wildcats go clear at the top

It was a big weekend for Killester as their Women’s Super League team got their title defence back on the rails following a dramatic 74-72 overtime win against FloMAX Liffey Celtics in Clontarf on Saturday night, a result that helped see SETU Waterford Wildcats go clear at the summit following their hard-earned 82-77 victory on the road against Utility Trust St. Paul’s. The latest double-game weekend in the Men’s Super League saw Killester hold on to top spot after they carded wins over Bright St. Vincent’s (108-95) and EJ Sligo All-Stars (100-94).

Killester reminded everyone just why they are the reigning Women’s Super League champions after they served up a tenacious display against another of the league’s big hitters, FloMAX Liffey Celtics, batting back from 17 points down late in the second quarter to clinch a dramatic 74-72 overtime win in Clontarf on Saturday night.

Desperate for a return to winning ways in the league following recent narrow defeats at the hands of The Address UCC Glanmire and Catalyst Fr. Mathews, Killester looked to be on course for a third straight reversal in this season’s campaign.

But 13 second-half points by Leilani Turner, including a huge three with 30 seconds remaining, proved crucial in seeing the Dublin side restore parity at 63 points apiece, effectively forcing overtime, during which Michelle Clarke struck twice from beyond the arc and Sarah Courtney landed two from the free-throw line just 17 seconds ahead of the buzzer to help pinch a huge victory for the holders.

“That was an important win for us in terms of staying in touch with the leaders and also for us trying to get some momentum going again” stressed Mark Grennell, Killester head coach. “We stole that one tonight. It wasn’t pretty, but credit to every one of the girls for a gutsy performance” he said.

SETU Waterford Wildcats were made scrap tooth and nail for every bit of their narrow 82-77 success on the road against Utility Trust St. Paul’s that saw them go three points clear of FloMAX Liffey Celtics at the top of the Women’s Super League table.

Deadlocked at the halftime break, this game saw the hosts take a four-point lead into the final quarter, but Wildcats, with the aid of the prolific Sarah Hickey and Ashia McCalla, who combined for 49 points and 15 rebounds, managed to claw their way back for the victory.

St. Paul’s will draw encouragement from a dogged performance that featured a 44-point total from Mathilde Diop and Gracen Kerr, while Megan Ormiston and Lorraine Scanlon took 17 defensive boards on their way to an impressive 25 rebounds.

Midlands Park Portlaoise Panthers missed out on the chance to avenge their early exit from this season’s Paudie O’Connor National Cup at the hands of Trinity Meteors, losing out to their Dublin rivals 67-54 when they met in Super League competition in St. Mary’s Hall on Saturday night.

While they were again clinical from the free-throw line with 12 from 12, Portlaoise made just four of their 28 three-point attempts as Trinity did enough to keep them at arms-length down the stretch, Grace Prenter and Emma Merriweather putting up 34 points on the night, with the latter combining with Sarah Kenny for 24 rebounds.

Gurranabraher Credit Union Brunell served up big second and third-quarter performances to see off Catalyst Fr. Mathews 75-65 in Thursday night’s Cork derby in Parochial Hall.

In what was a repeat of last season’s Paudie O’Connor National Cup Final match-up, Brunell turned a seven-point deficit midway through the second period into a 17-point advantage by the start of the fourth as Deaja Richardson top scored on 20 points, with nine rebounds and four assists to boot.

The latest double-game weekend in Men’s Super League saw Killester hit the century mark in both of their outings, as Saturday’s 108-95 derby win away to Bright St. Vincent’s was followed up with a 100-94 success over a dogged EJ Sligo All-Stars in Inchicore on Sunday evening.

Kason Harrell served up a game-high 34 points for the current table toppers in their clash with a Sligo outfit who, despite facing a 17-point deficit heading in to the final quarter, continued to battle right to the final buzzer with Jonathan Brown, Robert Montgomery and John Carroll totalling a huge 75 on the day, keeping Killester very much on their toes.

“We’re very happy to get two wins this weekend against very tough opponents” said Jonny Grennell, Killester head coach.

“We’re on a good run of form right now and it's important to eke out as many wins as we can while the ball is bouncing our way” he added.

UCC Demons remain level with Killester at the top of the table, albeit having played two games more, the Cork side following up on Friday’s 93-80 road win over Garvey’s Tralee Warriors with at 104-98 triumph at home to Belfast Star in Parochial Hall.

Patrick Robinson drained all, but one, of his 17 free throws on his way to a haul of 27 points as he emerged from this game the most prolific of the five players whom Demons had in double digits.

Belfast’s Maximillian Cooper did equal that total, but even his contribution and the combined 42 that Darweshi Hunter and De Ondre Jackson put up, was not enough to prevent Star’s three-game winning streak drawing to a close.

Defending Super League champions, Griffith College Éanna bounced back from Saturday’s loss to Irish Guide Dogs Ballincollig @MTU to see off Flexachem KCYMS 96-89 in overtime on Sunday in Killorglin Sports Complex.

This titanic battle saw the Dublin side finish up with no less that six players in double figures, including Joshua Wilson on 24, while Beni Fungula carded a game-best 30 for the hosts.

It was a double-game weekend of contrasting fortunes for UCD Marian and Garvey’s Tralee Warriors as the former improved their record to 5 and 6 after fending off their Kerry rivals for an edge-of-the-seat 82-81 road win on Sunday that came hot on their heels of their double-overtime triumph against Flexachem KCYMS the previous night.

Down by 15 points heading into the fourth quarter, Tralee reduced the gap to the narrowest of margins when Marquavian Stephens drained two from the free-throw line with seven seconds remaining, but UCD held out to deny their Kerry rivals a first win in five outings.

In addition to the 16 points he put up on the day, Tanner Graham bagged 14 defensive boards on his way to total of 16 rebounds for the Dublin side.

Irish Guide Dogs Ballincollig @MTU followed up on Saturday night’s 16-point win over defending Super League champions Griffith College Éanna with a 73-64 road win over Maree in Calasanctius College on Sunday afternoon.

Ballincollig’s Joshua Tomaic and Adrian O’Sullivan netted 32 points between them to help see off a Maree outfit that was looking to add to their three-point victory over Templeogue the night before.

Energywise Ireland Neptune bounced back from their 13-point reversal at home against Belfast Star on Saturday to earn an 86-65 victory over the struggling Templeogue in Nord Anglia on Sunday.

 

Less than a week after eliminating Garvey’s Tralee Warriors from this season’s Pat Duffy National Cup quarter-finals, UCC Demons heaped more misery on their Kerry rivals when they beat them 93-80 in a clash that provided the curtain raiser to another double-game weekend in Men’s Super League.

Both sides finished with four players in double figures in Tralee Sports Complex on Friday night, Patrick Robinson and James Hannigan combining for 51 points for the visitors, while Rapolas Buivydas, on 21, was the most prolific for Tralee, who have now gone four games without a win.

“That was another very solid defensive play to get a win on the road” remarked Daniel O’Mahony, UCC Demons head coach. “Both us and Tralee went into the game missing key players, so it was really a test of strength and depth.”

Irish Guide Dogs Ballincollig @MTU exacted revenge for their opening night defeat at the hands of Griffith College Éanna back in October, as they beat the defending champions 80-64 on the road, Todd Wolfe delivering 26 points, seven rebounds and as many assists for the visitors.

A 108-95 derby win away to Bright St. Vincent’s saw Killester join UCC Demons at the top of the Men’s Super League table having played two games less, Kason Harrell putting up 27 points for the visitors to help counter the game-high 36 that JaRon Thames amassed for St. Vincent’s.

Killester lead with a six-point margin against Bright St. Vincent’s at the midpoint 🟠

Bright St. Vincent’s 52-58 Killester#BISL | #BITV pic.twitter.com/xBakPuJ5ln

— Basketball Ireland (@BballIrl) December 14, 2024

Double overtime was required to separate Flexachem KCYMS and UCD Marian in Killorglin Sports Complex, the Dublin side prevailing 107-102 on a night that saw Jonathan Jean and Lovre Tvrdic total a massive 68 points for UCD while Jordan Blount and Beni Fungula delivered a combined 66 for the hosts.

No less than six players hit double digits for Belfast Star as they ran out 109-96 winners over Energywise Ireland Neptune on the road on Saturday night, Darweshi Hunter (23), De Ondre Jackson (21) and Max Richardson (20) all exceeding 20 to help cancel out the combined 50 that Chancellor Hunter and Nil Sabata Vila put up for the Cork side.

Despite Tavias Fagan and Immanuel Allen each hitting 28 points, Templeogue were made rue a disappointing third quarter in which they managed just seven points and were outgunned by 12 as they slipped to a 72-69 defeat at the hands of Maree in Calasanctius College, Miles Brown and Joshua McGettigan totalling 42 for the hosts.

 

In Men’s Division One, South Conference leaders, Limerick Celtics extended their perfect run to ten games following a comprehensive 105-70 victory over Team NorthWest in Foyle Arena on Saturday evening.

At the other end of the table, Tipp Talons picked up just their second win of the campaign so far when they beat Drogheda Wolves 87-74 in Scoil Ruain.

A somewhat depleted ND Audit Portlaoise Panthers moved to 9 and 0 at the summit of the North Conference following their hard-fought 82-72 victory over SETU Waterford Vikings in St. Mary’s Hall on Sunday.

Ulster University edged ahead of Maigh Cuilinn in the table after they dished out an 83-72 defeat to their Galway rivals in Knocknacarra Community Centre.

Both Limerick Sport Eagles and Scotts Lakers Killarney chalked up road wins on Saturday night, the former seeing off Carrick Cruisers 84-78 in Phoenix Centre, while Killarney edged a 71-66 triumph over Joels Dublin Lions in Coláiste Bríde.

In Women’s Division One, McEvoy’s Cavan Eagles made it six from six to remain top of the Women’s Division One table at the expense of a Moy Tolka Rovers team they beat 76-57 in Virginia Show Centre on Saturday evening.

Limerick Sport Huskies remained hot on the heels of the table toppers after they outpaced Abbey Seals Dublin Lions down the stretch to earn an 84-77 win in St. Munchin’s College.

iSecure Swords Thunder inflicted on Cleveland Rockets their first reversal in the league since mid-October, the Dublin side running out 66-56 winners in ALSAA on Saturday evening.

In Sunday’s lone Women’s Division One fixture, Limerick Celtics stormed to a 76-51 success over Templeogue in Crescent College.