Dominos Mens Super League R3
Garvey’s Tralee Warriors 86 UCC Demons 79
Garvey’s Tralee Warriors delivered a performance of true grit and determination to outgun the defending Super League champions UCC Demons by 86-79 at the Kerry Sports Academy on Saturday night. Trailing by 9 approaching the half time break, the Warriors edged their way back into contention and took the lead midway through the final quarter to see out an impressive win over the Cork college side.
The Warriors started well by building a 14-6 lead early with James Fernane nailing a corner three, Daniel Jokubaitis with a major and minor score and two baskets from Iggy Hunte. Tala Fam Thiam struck back with a hat trick from the paint and when James Hannigan hit a trademark three the gap was bridged. Tala and Zach Hinton drove Demons on with a pair of baskets each before Daryl Cuff struck from beyond the top of the arc to see the Cork side lead 26-20 at quarter time.
The Warriors turned the six point deficit into a five point lead with an enterprising 18 point volley in the second beginning with a Cian Sullivan score and added to by threes from Jordan Perkins and Jokubaitis and two scores from Dan Bowler much to the delight of the huge crowd. Demons struck back after Cuff was in range again from distance and when James Hannigan knocked down two identical major scores and Shariff Black and Live Kivuvu took full value from the line the visitors built a 47-38 lead late on. However, importantly for Warriors, two late baskets from Hunte and Perkins cut the gap half to 47-42 at the long break.
Tala Fam Thiam continued to torment the Warriors rearguard with another two scores from close range to restore Demons nine point lead. The hosts replied with interest as the scores rained down with four from Hunte, Jokubaitis, Perkins and Bowler all getting in on the act to edge 56-55 ahead. Tala and Hinton were on the mark again for Demons either side of a Scott Hannigan three but Hannigan then picked up a technical after fouling Jordan Perkins in the act of scoring. Perkins calmly swished the extra and technical free throws to see the hosts take a 65-62 lead into the final quarter.
Scott Hannigan struck from distance early in the fourth but Olaf Michalczuk then seized his opportunity to step up to the mark and fire down back to back threes that had the huge home crowd on their feet. Hinton was busy at the other end hitting four like for like scores to keep Demons in touch but Hunte, Quigley and a major from Jokubaitis gave the Warriors a decisive six point lead with 3 minutes on the clock. Kivuvu slammed in two baskets in a row in a defiant effort to cut the gap but Perkins stylishly fired down a three before Jokubaitis and Quigley hit the insurance scores to give the Warriors a fully deserved 86-79 win to continue their unbeaten run at the Kerry Sports Academy ahead of the visit of Belfast Star next Sunday.
Scorers:
Garvey’s Tralee Warriors: McCarthy Insurance MVP Iggy Hunte 23, Daniel Jokubaitis 19, Jordan Perkins 17
UCC Demons: Zach Hinton 18, Tala Fam Thiam 16, Shariff Black 13
Next up for the Warriors is a double header of fixtures beginning on Friday night when they travel to UL to take on Limerick Celtics with tip off at 7.00pm. On Sunday its back to the Kerry Sports Academy for a mid-afternoon showdown with League pace setters Belfast Star.