UCC Demons vs Garvey’s Tralee Warriors

Recap

After weathering a first quarter onslaught by the reigning National Cup champions, Garvey’s Tralee Warriors completely turned the game around from trailing by 30-16 at quarter time, to leading 52-47 at half time before going on to secure a comfortable 93-80 win over UCC Demons at the Mardyke Arena in the opening round of the InsureMyVan.ie Mens Super League on Sunday.

The Warriors had to withstand an all-out attack by Demons in the opening quarter that yielded the Cork side 30 points with the Demons dangerman Elijah Tillman, Toby Christensen and Roosevelt Davis all in range. The Warriors resistance came in the form of scores from Eoin Quigley, Daniel Jokubaitis and new American point guard Marquavian Stephens who was impressive early on. A late major effort from Stephens cut the Demons lead to 30-16 at quarter time and seemed to spark a Warriors revival.

Warriors new American guard Brandon Mahan, who hardly had an open look in the opening quarter, lit up spectacularly in the second quarter to fire in 15 points from inside and outside the arc. Rap Buivydas, Gregorio Adon and Stephens also found scores easier to come by as Demons defensive effort struggled to contain the Warriors offensive threat. Major scores from James Hannigan, Christensen and American Sean Clancey kept Demons in the game but at half time the Warriors assumed control to lead by 52-47.

Mahan continued to torment the Demons rearguard with a huge three early in the third and when Gregorio Adon and Stephens also found the basket from close range, the Warriors advantage was out to double digits. The Demons cause suffered a double blow midway through the quarter when a lack of discipline by Sean Clancey saw him ejected with Toby Christensen fouled out soon after. However the Cork side rallied with threes from James Hannigan and Carlton Cuff and with Warriors losing captain Eoin Quigley with his fifth foul, the game was back in the melting pot with Tralee leading by just 70-63 at three quarter time.

A hat trick of major scores from Buivydas, Jokubaitis and Mahan restored order for the Warriors early in a scrappy fourth quarter as the visitors regained control of the contest. Demons again struggled to create anything to seriously challenge the Warriors dominance and were limited to scores from Lehane, Davis and Cuff that simply added respectability to the scoreline. Another trademark three from Jokubaitis and a late volley from the outstanding Gregorio Adon eased the Warriors to a comfortable 93-80 win in the end.