Basketball Ireland Men’s Super League 2024/2025 – Round 10
Irish Guide Dogs Ballincollig 83
Garvey’s Tralee Warriors 80
For just the second time this season Garvey’s Tralee Warriors were on the wrong side of the result when edged out by Irish Guide Dogs Ballincollig by 83-80 at the MTU Arena on Saturday evening. Despite having ball in hand with 20 seconds on the clock and trailing by a single point, the Tralee side were turned over trying to conjure the game winning play, and Adrian O’Sullivan had the honour of landing the clutch pair of free throws to settle the contest and inflict the second loss of the campaign on the Warriors.
Ballincollig, who were looking for back to back League wins in three days, made the better start with Jake Wolfe and Joshua Tomaic combining to give the hosts a six point lead but Rap Buivydas and Mark Stephens cut the gap to a single point early on. The Warriors duo helped double their sides tally by the midpoint of the quarter but Adrian O’Sullivan opened his account to keep the home side in front. Brandon Mahan added his name to the scoresheet before Buivydas with an and one effort had the Tralee side back on terms but Quashawn Lane swished two from two from the line to see Ballincollig lead 20-19 at quarter time.
Mark Stephens was proving to be more than a handful for the hosts rearguard and twice danced his way to the board after Buivydas had landed a now typical tough finish but Ballincollig maintained their lead with Lane and a double from Keelan Cairns keeping them a score ahead. A quick hat trick from Ballincollig from Wolfe, Tomaic and Ronan O’Sullivan gave the hosts a significant 8 cushion in what was a tight game. The two teams possess lights out shooters but neither was able to capitalise from distance and it was left to Tomaic and Ronan O’Sullivan for Ballincollig and Mark Stephens and Daniel Jokubaitis with his first of the night to keep the scoreboard ticking over to the half time break with Ballincollig leading 43-38.
Incredibly it took until the opening minute of the third quarter to see the first three point score with Jake Wolfe obliging for the hosts and when he and Adrian O’Sullivan followed up from inside, the lead was back out to 8. The Warriors first three from Greg Adon negated an and one from Adrian O’Sullivan and with Mahan converting from the line the gap was back to a single score. Mahan was in range before Stephens took advantage of an unsportsmanlike call and fired in twice from under the board and despite Wolfe adding a quick fire double of his own, the Warriors led 61-59 at the final short break.
Stephens who finished up with a game high 36 was in range again early in the fourth with a 7 point volley but Lane, Ronan and Adrian O’Sullivan combined to wrestle the lead back. The game was delicately poised as the clock ticked past the midway point with Tomaic and Jokubaitis trading scores before Adrian O’Sullivan and Lane pushed Ballincollig 77-74 ahead with 2 mins on the clock. A statement three pointer from Jokubaitis swung the momentum back the way of the Warriors and Stephens added his final score of the game to bring his personal tally to 36 and see his side go 80-79 up but a Quashawn Lane drive to the board edged the hosts 81-80 ahead with just 20 seconds on the clock. With the final play of the game the Warriors looked to find the winning score but fluffed their lines with a turnover at the top of the key that saw Adrian O’Sullivan immediately fouled and he duly obliged with two free throws to give Ballincollig their second win in three days and hand the Warriors their second defeat of the League campaign.
Irish Guide Dogs Ballincollig: Adrian O’Sullivan 19, Jake Wolfe 19, Quashawn Lane 18
Garvey’s Tralee Warriors: Marquavian Stephens 36, Rap Buivydas 19, Daniel Jokubaitis 11
The Warriors now need to pivot quickly in preparation for a thorough examination of their National Cup credentials. They face the defending champions UCC Demons in a quarter final meeting at Neptune Stadium knowing a repeat of the performance against Ballincollig will simply not be good enough. Demons are formidable opposition when it comes to Cup competition with weapons all over the floor including the Hannigan brothers Scott and James, Kyle Hosford, Elijah Tillman, Toby Christensen, Irish international Dave Lehane and new American Patrick Robinson who has averaged 30 points in the two games since his arrival into Danny O’Mahony’s squad. It will all play out when the sides meet in Neptune Stadium in the Pat Duffy National Cup quarter final on Saturday 7th December with tip off at 4.00pm. The winners will take on the team that emerges from the quarter final at the Mercy College with EJ Sligo All Stars hosting Irish Guide Dogs Ballincollig.