InsureMyVan.ie Mens Super League – Round 8
UCC Demons 72
Garvey’s Tralee Warriors 76
Garvey’s Tralee Warriors made it back to back wins on the road with a 76-72 over UCC Demons at the Mardyke Arena in Cork on Friday night. The Warriors have timed their return to form perfectly with successive wins over EnergyWise Ireland Neptune and now UCC Demons ahead of their National Cup quarter final at home to Bright St. Vincent’s in Tralee next weekend. Demons took to the court with the services of star players Kyle Hosford and Seventh Woods but drafted in Da’Kquan Davis from Limerick late in the week proved to be a most able replacement, shooting 30 points in an impressive first showing.
The Warriors took an early lead with Daniel Jokubaitis firing in from distance with his first and second touches of the ball. New signing Da’Kquan Davis obliged to open the scoring for Demons and a double from James Hannigan had the sides level. Jarvis Doles and Ken Jah Bosley edged the Warriors back in front before Ryan Leonard hit the first three of his 20 points on the night to spark a Warriors scoring blitz. The visitors threatened to cut loose hitting 12 unanswered points from Leonard, Doles, Rap Buivydas, Eddie Sheehy, Steven Bowler and Cian O’Sullivan to put 17 between the sides. However new recruit Davis stopped the rot with back to back threes including a buzzer beater cutting the Warriors advantage to 27-16 at the end of the first.
The Davis double steadied the Demons ship and the hosts found both their composure and their range to shoot their way back on level terms. Davis arced in his third three of the night but Eoin Quigley with a major score of his own and Doles with a three and the extra kept the Warriors lead in double digits. However a quick Demons run with scores from Tala Fam Thiam, Davis and captain Dave Lehane from inside and out forced a Warriors time out. Out of that Leonard’s second three of the night saw the Warriors lead by four as the clock ticked down but Demons were to have the final say in the half when Davis and D’Andre Johnson combined to lock the game up at 39-39 at half time.
Ryan Leonard continued to find his range and another three from him broke the deadlock early in the third but Thiam and James Beckom replied to level for Demons before Quigley, Doles and Leonard were all on the mark to quickly build an eight point lead forcing Demons Coach Danny O’Mahony to call a time out. In a physical contest with one to one battles and hustles for possession the name of the game both sides hit the team foul mark midway through in what was a scrappy quarter. Demons took greater advantage with six from eight from the line before a Davis three squared up the contest at 54-54. However despite scores from Beckom and Hannigan, a double from Doles and a brilliant effort from Quigley inched the Warriors 63-60 ahead at the end of the third.
Demons made an early run for home in the fourth and scores from Davis, Beckom and Hannigan gave Demons the lead for the first time on the night. A Warriors time out allowed a quick reboot and a fast break score from Bosley and another three from Leonard restored order. In a game that had 40 fouls, both personal and technical, was arguably high by any standards in a game that was tough and physical but never anything beyond that, both Rap Buivydas firstly and later on James Beckom used up their allowances and watched the final moments of the contest from their seats. A Davis three gave Demons a killer score the game was there to be won with just a minute on the clock. However in a hectic finale Jarvis Doles proved to be the match winner for Warriors with a follow up lay-up and two from two from the line after a brilliant steal by Quigley securing a 76-72 win in the end.
Images with thanks to Liam Ryan
Scorers:
UCC Demons: Da’Kquan Davis 30, James Beckom 11, D’Andre Johnson 10
Garvey’s Tralee Warriors: Jarvis Doles 23, Ryan Leonard 20, Eoin Quigley 11
Focus turns to National Cup duty for the Warriors next weekend as they welcome Bright St. Vincent’s to Tralee for a quarter final showdown next Saturday night. The Warriors have already got the better of Vincent’s in Round 4 of the League and on current form will be fancied to secure a semi-final berth in Cork in early January. With KJ Bosley cup tied with Maree, they will be hoping that Johnny Williams can make the starting five with a return from injury.
Tip off next week for the quarter final of the InsureMyHouse.ie Pat Duffy National Cup gets under way at the Tralee Sports Complex next Saturday evening at 7.30pm.