Garvey’s Tralee Warriors clinch dramatic win over defending champions as SETU Waterford Wildcats weather severe test

A dramatic three-point buzzer beater by Marquavian Stephens clinched an 89-86 victory for Garvey’s Tralee Warriors in their Men’s Super League clash against defending champions, Griffith College Éanna in Tralee Sports Complex on Saturday night, while in Women’s Super League, leaders, SETU Waterford Wildcats were forced to weather a colossal challenge from Midlands Park Portlaoise Panthers to prevail 70-66 in Mercy College.

Marquavian Stephens served up a stunning three-point buzzer beater to see Garvey’s Tralee Warriors edge a nailbiting 89-86 victory over defending Men’s Super League champions, Griffith College Éanna in Tralee Sports Complex on Saturday night.

Just several days after ending their run of five defeats by way of a five-point triumph over Flexachem KCYMS, Tralee continued in their efforts to get their Men’s Super League title campaign back on track as they just about weathered a fourth-quarter surge by their Dublin rivals who were 18 points down at the close of the third.

Tyland Crawford hit 10 points in the final period to take his tally to 17, but even that, along with the 19-point contribution from Stefan Desnica was not enough to help see Éanna surmount Tralee, for whom Gregorio Adon and Brandon Mahan served up a combined 39 ahead of Stephens’ last-second heroics that took his game tally to 14.

“For three quarters we played some superb basketball and showed what we can do” said John Dowling, Garvey’s Tralee Warriors head coach.

“Credit to Éanna, they’re league champions, and they came back fighting, and we needed that miracle shot to win at the end, but on the balance of things, I felt we probably deserved the win” he added.

INSANE BUZZER-BEATER 🫨

Marquavian Stephens wins the game for Tralee with an outrageous three to take the game 👊

Garvey’s Tralee Warriors 89-86 Griffith College Éanna#BISL | #BITV | 📸 @warriors_bc pic.twitter.com/ikj3c8EPNF

— Basketball Ireland (@BballIrl) December 21, 2024

With UCC Demons not in action this weekend, it was an opportunity for Killester to go clear at the top of the table, and they took it with both hands, running out 99-64 winners over Templeogue in Saturday night’s Dublin derby in the National Basketball Arena.

While Templeogue’s Tavias Fagan emerged the game’s top scorer on 22 points, six players hit the double-digit mark for Killester, including Isiah Dasher on 19 and Baptiste Chazelas and Paul Dick on 16 apiece.

Irish Guide Dogs Ballincollig @MTU returned home from Dublin celebrating a 100-77 success against Bright St. Vincent’s that pushed their winning run in the top flight out to four games.

Both sides finished with five players in double figures, Todd Wolfe the most prolific for Ballincollig with 22 points, along with 10 rebounds and four steals, while Samuel Henderson carded 18 points for the hosts.

Energywise Ireland Neptune fought back from nine points down early in the fourth quarter to dig out an 80-76 win away to Maree in Calasanctius College.

Darragh O’Sullivan nailed three of his four efforts from beyond the arc on his way to 11 points in that decisive final quarter, taking his tally on the night to 15, while Chancellor Calhoun-Hunter and Jaksa Sola weighed in heavily with a combined 47 points in response to the total of 44 that Miles Brown and Bernat Vanaclocha put up for Maree.

EJ Sligo All-Stars returned to winning ways in Men’s Super League following two successive defeats after they saw off Belfast Star 89-79 in Mercy College on Saturday night.

Even a 29-point haul by De Ondre Jackson was not enough to see Belfast prevail, as Sligo took three of the four quarters, Robert Montgomery recording 23 points and 12 rebounds for the homeside.

 

Women’s Super League leaders, SETU Waterford Wildcats had to delve the last of their reserves to dig out a thrilling 70-66 victory over a tenacious Midlands Park Portlaoise Panthers in Mercy College on Saturday evening.

This titanic battle saw both sides deadlocked on six occasions throughout the final quarter, Wildcats edging the victory after Ashia McCalla converted two from the free-throw line and another from the floor over the closing minute and a half.

Sarah Hickey and Chelsea Cain, with their combined 30 points and 27 rebounds, were also crucial to this success for Waterford against a Portlaoise side for whom Lynn Tunnah and Amy Dooley racked up 19 apiece, the latter also mopping up 14 rebounds.

“It was a very hard-fought battle tonight against Portlaoise” admitted Jillian Hayes, SETU Waterford Wildcats head coach.

“I’m just happy to get it over the line and end the year on a win. We are carrying a lot of injury, so hopefully the Christmas rest will do us the power of good” she added.

Samantha Haiby served up 28 points, 15 rebounds and six assists to help see defending Women’s Super League champions, Killester stave off a dogged Gurranabraher Credit Union Brunell outfit for an 86-78 road win on Saturday.

Killester keep the pace with a win against Brunell ⚔️

Gurranabraher Credit Union Brunell 78-86 Killester#BISL | #BITV pic.twitter.com/1tXRODM7og

— Basketball Ireland (@BballIrl) December 21, 2024

Hannah Thornton weighed in with an additional 16 points and seven rebounds for the Dubliners who were very much kept on their toes by their Cork rivals, for whom Danielle O’Leary and Deaja Richardson delivered a combined 44 points.

Catalyst Fr. Mathews turned the screw on Utility Trust St. Paul’s in the second half of their Women’s Super League clash on Saturday afternoon, holding their Kerry rivals to just 15 points in that period as they ran out 68-47 winners in Fr. Mathews Arena.

Looking to make a swift return to winning ways following their 10-point reversal at the hands of Gurranabraher Credit Union Brunell, the Cork side were helped on their way by Shannon Brady’s 24-point total, while Kyra White and Grainne Dwyer chipped in with a combined 28 points and 19 rebounds.

Trinity Meteors afforded the struggling University of Galway Mystics a maximum quarter-return of just 10 points as they rampaged to 131-31 demolition of the Super League table props in Coláiste Íosagáin on Saturday.

Meteors run rampant against Mystics with +1️⃣0️⃣0️⃣ points difference! 😮‍💨

Trinity Meteors 131-31 University of Galway Mystics#BISL | #BITV pic.twitter.com/WNBgktvrKD

— Basketball Ireland (@BballIrl) December 21, 2024

The Dublin side had no less than seven players in double figures by the close of proceedings, Emma Merriweather inflicting huge damage with 28 points and 22 rebounds, while Sarah Kenny, on 11 points, also mopped up 11 loose balls under the boards.

 

In Men’s Division One, ND Audit Portlaoise Panthers kept their unbeaten record intact heading into Christmas after they ran out 93-76 winners over Joels Dublin Lions to go 10 and 0 at the top of the North Conference.

Titans recorded a 98-83 success over Killarney Cougars in Presentation Gym, while Scotts Lakers Killarney fought back from 11 points down late in the second quarter to beat SETU Waterford Vikings 78-69 in Killarney Sports and Leisure.

A big first-quarter display in which they outscored their opponents by 18 points helped propel Moy Tolka Rovers to a 113-99 triumph over Drogheda Wolves in Ballymakenny College, while Maigh Cuilinn carded a 95-85 road win over Limerick Sport Eagles in UL Arena.

Ulster University made it three wins on the bounce after they saw off Team NorthWest 76-56 in Jordanstown Sports Village.

 

In Women’s Division One, McEvoy’s Cavan Eagles moved to 8 and 0 at the summit following their 99-66 triumph over Abbey Seals Dublin Lions in Virginia Show Centre, while Templeogue ended a run of six defeats after they surmounted the challenge of Dublin rivals, Oblate Dynamos 68-58 in the National Basketball Arena.

Limerick Sport Huskies chalked up their fourth straight win in the league after they emerged victorious 73-59 from their game away to iSecure Swords Thunder, while Limerick Celtics also enjoyed a successful trip to Dublin, picking up a 68-58 win over Moy Tolka Rovers.