Dominos Mens Super League R12 Back Game

Garvey’s Tralee Warriors 91

Flexachem KCYMS 90

Garvey’s Tralee Warriors finally booked their ticket to the playoffs after a thrilling win over local rivals Flexachem KCYMS by 91-90 in a game that will be long remembered for those lucky enough to have seen it. The game had everything including a breathless finale where the Warriors trailed by a single point after Eche Okeke nailed a three pointer worthy of winning any game but the Tralee side got a shot away in their last play from Daniel Jokubaitis with captain Eoin Quigley rising above Jordan Blount tip in rebound and seal the priceless win.

The game was pure entertainment throughout with both teams needing to win, the Warriors to make the playoffs and Killorglin to stave off the threat of relegation from Super League. The first quarter saw Jordan Blount light up early with 9 points but Jordan Perkins hit a hat trick to help Warriors level the game midway through. Jokubaitis and Perkins struck for major scores from Warriors before Iggy Hunte knocked in a double at the basket but scores from Rami Ghanem and Eche Okeke and a corner three from Emilian Grudov edged Killorglin 25-24 ahead at quarter time.

A quick exchange of scores saw the sides level early in the second but Marques Lecher-Ellis began to find his range with three in a row with Blount adding put the visitors 36-32 midway through the quarter. Jordan Perkins’ second and third three pointer of the night saw Warriors take a narrow lead and when Eoin Quigley arc in from distance the lead was out to 5. However Killorglin through Lecher-Ellis and Okeke converted an ‘and one’ each to level the contest at 43-43 at half time.

Lecher-Ellis and Okeke helped ease Killorglin ahead early in the third but Warriors response was decisive with major scores from Jokubaitis and Keelan Crowe giving the hosts a 6 point lead. Warriors hit their 5 foul allowance way too early in the quarter and a series of trips to the free throw line for Killorglin saw them level the contest again at 57-57. A Jokubaitis trademark three along with baskets from Steven Bowler and Perkins saw Warriors seize the initiative late on but Grudov drilled another three from the corner to cut the Warriors advantage to 66-62 at the end of the third.

Warriors got the start they needed in the fourth with Olaf Michalczuk’s first three of the night followed by Perkins and Hunte adding to put, in the context of the game to that point,  a relatively comfortable 9 between the sides. Killorglin to their credit fired back through Lecher-Ellis and Blount before Liam Croke nailed a corner three to leave a single score between the teams. Perkins and Jokubaitis combined to put Warriors 4 up with 3’00’’ remaining but Croke and Grudov both rattled in major scores to put Killorglin 2 points up. Warriors replied in kind through Michalczuk and Jokubaitis to give Warriors back the lead but Eche Okeke produced a moment of magic with a stunning three pointer that put Killorglin 1 point up as the clock ticked down. The scriptwriter allowed time for a little more drama with Eoin Quigley tipping in Daniel Jokubaitis’ three point effort that hit the rim to edge an absolute classic contest by 91-90 in the end.

Scorers:

Garvey’s Tralee Warriors: Jordan Perkins 29, Daniel Jokubaitis 21, Iggy Hunte 15

Flexachem KCYMS: Marques Lecher-Ellis 23, Jordan Blount 21, Eche Okeke 18

Warriors now face a trip to take Griifith College Eanna in the final regulation game of the season on Saturday evening in Colaiste Eanna. Currently sitting in 6th place, a win for the Warriors could take them as high as 5th in the final standings, while a loss will limit them to ending up lower in the rankings. For Flexachem KCYMS their survival in Super League now rests on them winning away to Limerick Celtics on Saturday night and hoping that Energywise Ireland Neptune fail to capitalise on home advantage for their final game against UCD Marian. With one round of games left there is still a lot to play for ahead of the final standings with both playoff and relegation issues to be settled.

Thank to Lim Ryan for the images