Scotts Lakers Killarney book their place in Domino’s Men’s Division One playoffs while Limerick Sport Huskies close in on runners-up spot in Domino’s Women’s Division One

Scotts Lakers Killarney were forced to weather a huge fourth-quarter onslaught by Moy Tolka Rovers on Saturday night, as they clinched a 93-91 home win, and with it, a spot in this season’s Domino’s Men’s Division One playoffs, while in Domino’s Women’s Division One, Limerick Sport Huskies moved to within one win of securing second place after they earned an 89-79 victory over a tenacious Abbey Seals Dublin Lions in Coláiste Bríde.

 

Scotts Lakers Killarney secured their place in this season’s Domino’s Men’s Division One playoffs after they weathered a heavy fourth-quarter barrage by Moy Tolka Rovers to edge a 93-91 victory at home on Saturday night.

While their Dublin rivals outgunned them by 15 points in the fourth, Killarney had inflicted enough damage over the previous three quarters to see them prevail, Darnell Snyers and Mikah Blackwell totalling 46 points between them to help counter the combined 54 that Mike Wallace and Stephen Commins amassed for the visitors.

“That was our best game offensively during the first three quarters and playing very decent defence against a team that has scored more than 200 points in their last two games” said Manuel Suárez, Scotts Lakers Killarney head coach.

“Everything was really close in the end and we almost lost more than a 20-points difference, but we got a well-deserved win to secure the playoffs and we're really happy with that” he said.

Christian Simmons amassed a huge 39 points, as Drogheda Wolves got their Domino’s Men’s Division One playoff campaign back on the rails following a 130-89 victory over Killarney Cougars in Ballymakenny College.

Coming into this tie on the back of successive defeats at the hands of Ulster University and Titans, Drogheda were desperate for a return to winning ways and book-ended Saturday night’s display against Killarney with big first and fourth-quarter runs that made the difference.

Denzel Ebose and Tiago Pereira also made their presence felt with a combined 49 points in response to the 33 that Benjamin Todd served up for the visitors.

Mater Private Malahide, meanwhile, suffered a setback in their bid for a top-four finish in the North Conference after they lost out 108-62 at home to Limerick Celtics.

The South Conference table toppers boasted no less than seven players in double digits by the final buzzer, among them AJ Williams on a game-best 24, with Finn Hughes and Philip Kearney totalling a further 31 points and 20 rebounds.

ND Audit Portlaoise Panthers maintained their winning form heading towards the playoffs as they chalked up an 88-66 success over Maigh Cuilinn in St. Mary’s Hall.

Xabi Arriaga carded a double double with 21 points and 11 rebounds, while Eric Anderson supplied an additional 15 on the scoreboard for the hosts.

Team NorthWest suffered a narrow 75-72 defeat at the hands of Titans in Ballinfoyle Castlegar Centre, despite Tyler Mutemasango and Alberto Rodriguez each totalling 23 points for the visitors.

The Galway side, having opened up a 13-point gap in the fourth, still had to weather a strong fight-back by their opponents, Michael Hayes and Fortune Igbokwe helping in that endeavour with a combined 33 points and 17 rebounds.

A big third quarter in which they outscored their opponents by 13, helped Joels Dublin Lions to a 97-85 victory over SETU Waterford Vikings in Coláiste Bríde, Evan Cook top scoring for the hosts on 31 points with Waterford’s Aaron Jackson just one shy of that total.

Carrick Cruisers served up a strong fourth-quarter to race clear of Tipp Talons for a 106-91 triumph in Scoil Ruain, six players in double figures for the visitors, among them Shamus Kahl (23) and Benyi Gomez (20), whose efforts went a long way to addressing the huge 37 that Joshua Reynolds served up for the hosts.

While it was a major setback to Tipp’s prospects of reaching the playoffs, they did preserve such hopes by way of a 105-88 victory over Team NorthWest back in Scoil Ruain on Sunday afternoon, Reynolds, this time, producing a staggering 56-point haul for the homeside.

 

Limerick Sport Huskies chalked up an 89-79 win over Abbey Seals Dublin Lions in Coláiste Bríde on Saturday evening to retain the inside track in the race for second place in Domino’s Women’s Division One this season.

Sofia Paska proved a real handful for the visitors as she amassed a huge 36 points and 11 boards, that saw the Clondalkin side almost complete a comeback from 15 points down in the third.

But timely threes down the stretch by Scout Frame, Sophie Moore, Orlaith Woods and Delia Moore went a long way to hauling Huskies over the line, leaving them one win away from locking down the runners-up spot.

“It was very tough game for us” admitted Trevor Moore, Limerick Sport Huskies head coach. “No surprise that Sofia was a challenge for us all game long, but their Irish guards finished well at the hoop also.

“But we held our composure and our shooters got hot late in the fourth quarter to seal the win for us” he said.

Limerick Celtics recorded a 79-58 triumph over Templeogue in Nord Anglia on Saturday to ensure the race for second place goes down to the final day of the regular season.

The visitors had five players in double digits by the close of proceedings, Shelby Harmeyer and Stephanie McBride, together, supplying a hugely impressive haul of 40 points, 32 rebounds and 14 assists.

iSecure Swords Thunder had just one point to spare against Cleveland Rockets, but their 72-71 victory in Newforge Sports Complex on Saturday afternoon was enough to see them leapfrog their hosts into fourth place in the table.

Makayla Miller, again, made a serious impact for the Dublin side with 29 points and 14 boards, while Megan Howe and Tia Stevens combined for a further 23 on the scoreboard, to help counter Caitlin Gloeckner’s 21 points and the combined 25 rebounds that Megan Ormiston and Georgie McGrath totalled for Rockets.

McEvoy’s Cavan Eagles proved too strong for Moy Tolka Rovers, recording a 78-38 victory that stretches their perfect league run to 15 games, Rahmena Henderson picking up a double double with 34 points and 11 rebounds.