Belfast Star survive late scare to defeat UCC Demons in Domino’s Men’s Super League

Belfast Star remain top of the Domino’s Men’s Super League after a 99-92 victory over a stern UCC Demons. Tamyrik Fields hit a tough finish through contact with two minutes to go to give Demons a one-point 87-86 lead, but Star recovered late through Shane Bell and both Aidan and Conor Quinn to win by seven. Roger Wilson led the way for Star with 29 points and Irish international Rapolas Buivydas had 19 plus 12 rebounds.

Star are now 14-3 for the season at the summit after a sixth consecutive win. For Demons, the loss sees them in still in eighth after Limerick Celtics defeat against Killester.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Basketball Ireland (@basketball_ireland)

Ballincollig got back to winning ways with a 94-85 triumph over Griffith College Éanna. The returning Latrell Jossell scored 11 points but it was Latavious Mitchell who stole the show with a 34-point game, along with 14 rebounds in a game where Ballincollig did not surrender their advantage after the first quarter. Mikah Blackwell scored  a team-high, 20 for Éanna, and added 11 boards for himself.

The win for Ballincollig keeps them tied for second with Killester, two games back from Belfast Star. For Éanna, they are in fifth spot, tied for fourth with UCD Marian, but Éanna possess a game in hand over Marian in the race for a home playoff berth.

Killester kept their push at the top rolling with a 97-76 triumph over Limerick Celtics in Crescent College on Saturday evening. Killester built an early, 12-point advantage in the opening quarter, which Celtics roared back from to take a 35-32 lead midway through the second. AJ Williams hit 11 of his 31 points in the second quarter, including a late three from deep to cut the deficit at half-time to ten points at 49-39 after a late run by Killester. Robert Braswell scored 34 points in 34 mins to secure the win for Killester.

Killester remain level for second after a seventh victory in eight games. The loss for Celtics means they remain in ninth, level with UCC Demons, who take up that final playoff position. However, Celtics have played one game less than Demons.

Energywise Ireland Neptune secured a crucial win in the fight for survival in the Domino’s Men’s Super League with a 95-78 win over EJ Sligo All-Stars. Mike Hayes pulled out one of the performances of the weekend, with 43 points and 10 rebounds for Neptune, including 15 in the final quarter. For All-Stars, Elijah Faapito and Jordan Hinda combined for 43 in the loss as Sligo edge closer to the drop zone.

The win for Neptune was a massive one, as they now go level with both Sligo and Killorglin on five wins, however they have an extra game to play over All-Stars.

Tanner Graham scored in the final seconds as UCD Marian left it late to defeat Flexachem KCYMS, 79-77. Bruce Sainitilus scored a game-high 32 points for Marian along with 21 from Graham, including that game-winning shot at the end of the game. For Killorglin, the trio of Jordan Blount, Marquez Letcher-Ellis and Rami Ghanem did everything to secure the victory, combining for 56 points between the three of them. But ultimately, Marian took home what could be a vital win in the fight for the home playoff positions.

Marian are in fourth place with a record of 9-8, but Éanna breathing down their necks on nine wins with an extra game to play. The defeat for Killorglin keeps them firmly in the relegation battle, at 5-11, with that extra game to play over Sligo.

Garvey’s Tralee Warriors went level with St. Vincent’s after a 79-71 win in Glasnevin on Saturday. Jordan Perkins and Irshaad Hunte continued to lead the way for Warriors, scoring 44 points between them. It was William Thomas and Marcellus Garrick leading the battle for Vincent’s, scoring 47 of their own points together. A 22-9 fourth quarter gave the MSL National Cup finalists the edge as Warriors went back to Tralee with the victory.

Both sides are now joint-sixth on eight wins, however, Warriors have two games extra to play over Vincent’s that could easily have them in the fight for the top-four.