Dominos Mens Super League R9
Garvey’s Tralee Warriors 62
Killester 47
Garvey’s Tralee Warriors got back to winning games after two defeats on the road last weekend when they easily accounted for Killester by 62-47 in a surprisingly low scoring contest at the Kerry Sports Academy on Saturday night. In a game many people saw as a dress rehearsal for the National Cup quarter final showdown between the teams in two weeks, the Warriors asserted late on and were full value for their 15 point win and the three valuable Super League points on offer.
The first quarter was played at a pedestrian pace with both sides failing to spark but Jordan Perkins did lift the mood with the first three pointer to help the Warriors to a 5-3 lead early on. Baptiste Chazelas struck for a double in response for the visitors and Matthew McGrath added to see Killester lead 8-7 midway through the quarter. Iggy Hunte opened his account before Perkins fired down his second major of the game and Steven Bowler came off the bench to land a tough score at the Killester board and put 6 between the sides. However, former Éanna star Josh Wilson struck for a late double to cut the gap to 14-12 at quarter time.
The second quarter opened with Daniel Jokubaitis hitting a trademark three pointer and when Hunte tipped in the lead was out to 19-12. McGrath was given time and space to fire in from distance but when Hunte and Jokubaitis converted from the line and Perkins added to his tally the gap was suddenly out to 10. Former Warrior Paul Dick then chose his moment to add his name to the scoresheet and when Chazelas and Colm O’Reilly followed suit the lead was down to 3. However Dan Bowler weaved his way through traffic to add with the last action of the quarter and give the Warriors a 27-22 lead at half time.
Josh Wilson’s basket in the first play of the second half gave Killester the start they needed but Cian Sullivan replied in kind and then produced two rejections at the other end of the court with the second setting up Olaf Michalczuk for the first of his strikes from beyond the arc and when Perkins was again on the mark the Warriors remained in control of the contest at 34-25 up. James Fernane came off the bench to land a cracking three pointer but noted Killester sharp shooter Andy McGeever replied at the other end of the court to cut the gap and when Jokubaitis and Wilson exchanged scores late on the game remained very much balance with the Warriors leading by 41-37 at three quarter time.
Olaf Michalczuk drilled his second major score of the game with the first action of the fourth but Wilson countered immediately in the very next play. Perkins then produced a six point volley that included a three pointer, a two pointer and conversion of a technical call on Baptiste Chazelas. Killester had no answer to the Warriors top scorer’s cameo and when Jokubaitis and Fernane added a major effort each either side of a basket from Hunte the game was well and truly settled with the hosts 59-43 up. McGeever registered Killester’s final score of the game but Hunte swished two free throws to add some gloss to the final scoreline of 62-47.
Scorers:
Garvey’s Tralee Warriors: McCarthy Insurance MVP Jordan Perkins 18, Daniel Jokubaitis 13, Iggy Hunte 12
Killester: Josh Wilson 16, Matthew McGrath 8, Baptiste Chazelas 8
The teams will have a welcome break next weekend with the international window but they will take to the court at the Kerry Sports Academy the following Saturday 6th December. The stakes will be considerably higher with Warriors having the benefit of home advantage for the National Cup quarter final clash with the prize for the winners a place in the last four of the competition on semi-finals weekend in Cork in early January.
Thanks to Liam Ryan for the images.