Domino’s Men’s Super League – Round 4
Garvey’s Tralee Warriors 68
Killester 65
Jaden Daughtry delivered a moment of buzzer beating magic to seal a dramatic 68-65 victory for Garvey’s Tralee Warriors over Killester at the Castleisland Community Centre on Saturday night in Round 4 of the Dominos Mens Super League.
With the scores tied at 65-65 and overtime looking inevitable, Daughtry took an assist from Olaf Michalczuk and banked home a stunning buzzer-beating three-pointer to spark scenes of utter delirium among the home supporters.
Captain Eoin Quigley and Daniel Jokubaitis opened the scoring for Warriors, but Killester responded through Josh Wilson, Matthew McGrath, Stefan Desnica and Benjamin Ubaekwe to establish an 11-6 lead. Three-pointers from Michalczuk and Alec Millender helped Warriors regain their footing, and a late Millender basket edged the hosts ahead 17-15 at quarter-time.
Wilson opened the second quarter with a score for Killester before Steven Bowler and Jokubaitis helped Warriors level at 23-23. Daughtry then broke the deadlock, and although Killester newcomer Kyle Carlisimo replied from inside and outside the arc, Warriors caught fire from distance. Consecutive three-pointers from Quigley, Ryan Sheehy, Daughtry and Millender sent the hosts into the break with a 40-32 advantage.
Killester chipped away at the lead in the third quarter through Desnica and Eoghain Kiernan, but Bowler remained composed from the free-throw line while Daughtry drive through the Killester rearguard led to an and-one score. Foul trouble offered Wilson the chance to edge the visitors closer, and further scores from McGrath and Wilson levelled the contest late in the period. But Daughtry had the final say again firing Warriors 49-47 ahead heading into the fourth.
Warriors took control of the contest early in the final quarter as two in a row from Daughtry and a classy three-point effort from Michalczuk opened up an eight-point lead. But Killester refused to surrender, with Wilson and Ubaekwe leading the fightback.
Ubaekwe’s tough finish brought the sides level at 65-65 inside the final minute. Killester had an opportunity to snatch victory, but Stefan Desnica’s effort from a baseline drive rimmed out and Ubaekwe failed to finish off the rebound. The ball fell to Alec Millender who launched the decisive play, Michalczuk supplied the assist and Daughtry arced in the collector’s item to cap a memorable MVP performance on the night.
Scorers
Garvey’s Tralee Warriors: Jaden Daughtry 28, Alec Millender 8, Steven Bowler 8, Daniel Jokubaitis 6, Olaf Michalczuk 6.
Killester: Josh Wilson 28, Kyle Carlisimo 19, Benjamin Ubaekwe 7, Matthew McGrath 7.