Basketball Ireland Men’s Super League 2024/2025 – Round 5
Garvey’s Tralee Warriors 100
Energywise Ireland Neptune 94
Garvey’s Tralee Warriors took the outright top spot on the Super League table with a 100-94 win over Energywise Ireland Neptune at the Tralee Sports Complex on Friday night. The game ended in dramatic fashion and with just 6 seconds on the clock a fracas involving a number of players from both sides overshadowed what was a cracking Super League game between two very good sides. Killester’s win away to Griffith College Éanna ensured that the Warriors are now the only unbeaten team in the League after 5 games of action going into Sunday’s clash with Belfast Star.
In a lively opening quarter Rap Buivydas continued his rich vein of form to fire down three scores and with Marquavian Stephens and Eoin Quigley in range the Warriors led 12-7 early on. Neptune replied with a quick fire 12 point volley from Jaska Sola including two major scores to tie up the game. A quick double from Cian Sullivan and threes from James Fernane and Jokubaitis were countered by another from Sola and a baseline and one from Jahmal Wright saw Pat Price’s side a 27-26 lead at quarter time.
The sides went literally score for score in the second quarter with the lead changing hands no fewer than 8 times. Buivydas continued to torment the Neptune defence to add another hat trick of scores along with effort from inside and out from Jokubaitis but Conor O’Sullivan, Wright and Ar’mond Davis with two each kept the sides deadlocked late in the quarter. Buivydas struck again and when Brandon Mahon and Stephens followed his lead the Warriors led 50-46 at half-time.
The Warriors took flight early in the third quarter and the peerless Buivydas with two, Mahan with two and Jokubaitis pushed the Warriors 10 points clear to lead 58-48. Despite efforts from Wright and a major from Davis, four baskets from Stephens either side of another from Jokubaitis maintained the Tralee side’s double digit advantage. However a hat trick of threes late from Kelvin O’Donoghue, Wright and Davis saw the Warriors take a slender one point lead into the final quarter.
The game remained firmly in the balance with the early exchanges in the final quarter with scores from Jokubaitis, Stephens, Quigley and a three from Adon negated by efforts from Davis, Wright and another major from Conor O’Sullivan. Neptune foul trouble allowed Stephens and Adon to capitalise from the line before Buivydas again powered to the basket to edge the Warriors 93-86 ahead. Davis knocked down a stunning effort from distance to keep the game alive but Jokubaitis who was a threat all night hit the score of the game from the corner to effectively seal the deal. With the game all but done and dusted a fracas in midcourt tainted a truly memorable game between two sides that chased the game all the way to the final buzzer. In the end the Warriors held their nerve to seal a fifth win from five games and put clear water between them and the rest of the League.
Garvey’s Tralee Warriors: Rap Buivydas 25, Daniel Jokubaitis 23, Marquavian Stephens 21 Energywise Ireland Neptune: Jahmal Wright 21, Ar’mond David 20, Jaksa Sola 19
The Warriors face into their second game of a double header weekend on Sunday afternoon when they entertain Belfast Star at the Tralee Sports Complex with a 1.30pm tip off.
Thanks to Liam Ryan for the images.