Dominos Mens Super League Semi Final
UCC Demons 103
Garvey’s Tralee Warriors 101
Garvey’s Tralee Warriors bid for a place in this years Dominos Super League final was denied them right at the death by UCC Demons, with their big American Elijah Tillman producing a game winning ‘and one’ score with less than 10 seconds on the clock that settled a pulsating and at times breathless League semi final clash at the Mardyke Arena on Thursday night. The contest was described by many as the game of the season with both teams contributing equally to a truly memorable contest.
The game opened at blistering pace with a typical James Hannigan strike from distance getting Demons on the scoreboard but a three from Greg Adon edged the Warriors ahead and when Daniel Jokubaitis followed his lead the Tralee side were 15-14 ahead midway through. Patrick Robinson’s left hand struck for two majors to level the game but the Warriors forged ahead with Eoin Quigley, Jokubaitis, two from Rap Buivydas and a cracking effort from Brandon Mahan from beyond the arc putting them 32-23 ahead. However Demons cut the gap to through Kyle Hosford and Dave Lehane from the line late on to leave the quarter time score reading 32-27.
A feisty opening to the second quarter kept the match referees busy as the intensity of the game showed no sign of relenting. Elijah Tillman opened his account and when James Hannigan hit two signature scores, one with an extra, Demons levelled at 36-36. A Jokubaitis corner three put the Warriors back in front but the hosts then went on a run that saw Robinson hit 9 points with Toby Christensen on the mark and a three from Scott Hannigan forcing a Warriors timeout. Despite Mark Stephens hitting a double late in the quarter, Demons led 54-50 at the long break with the big crowd cheering both sides off the court as they headed for the dressing rooms.
The game continued to rock and roll early in the third with the sides going score for score with Stephens and Buivydas combining for Warriors and Brandon Mahan knocking down his second and third threes of the night but Toby Christensen with a hot hand added 7 points with Robinson also in range to level the contest at the midway point. The Warriors then went on a run of their own that yielded 17 points from Stephens with three, Mahan and two cracking majors from Buivydas that spread the game with the Tralee leading 77-66 with a minute left in the quarter. To Demons credit they somehow managed to strike back with a 6 point volley as the clock ticked down through Christensen and Hosford to pare the Warriors advantage back 79-74 at three quarter time.
Josh Osayanrhion was sprung from the bench early in the fourth and the young Warriors star immediately struck for a hat trick but Demons then chose their time to produce a move to add 14 points through Christensen, James Hannigan, the dynamic Robinson with a hat trick of his own and when Hosford and Hannigan nailed a three each it forced another Warriors time out to stop the rot with Demons up 92-85. Back came the Warriors through Brandon Mahan, Rap Buivydas and Stephens to take a 96-94 lead with 1’30” on the clock. A Patrick Robinson major edged Demons 100-99 ahead but a spectacular lay up from Ryan Leonard had the Tralee side 101-100 ahead and on the brink of booking their ticket to Tallaght. However, Elijah Tillman proved to be the match winner, doing what he has been doing all season by landing a tough contested basket and sealing the win with the extra from the line.
For Warriors it is the end of the road for the season, for Demons it is the chance to take on Killester in the League decider on 13th April in a repeat of the Cup Final in January.
Scorers:
UCC Demons: Patrick Robinson 30, James Hannigan 21, Toby Christensen 20
Garvey’s Tralee Warriors: Mark Stephens 24, Rap Buivydas 23, Brandon Mahan 21
Thanks to Liam Ryan for the images.