Basketball Ireland Development League – Round 1
Clare Cascaders 58
Tralee Warriors 105
Tralee Warriors got their Basketball Ireland Development League campaign off to an impressive start last night with a big win over Clare Cascaders in Ennistymon. The Warriors featuring a number of their Senior squad both past and present were simply too strong for the Clare outfit and led throughout the contest.
The Warriors got off to a flying start with Olaf Michalczuk, Zigi Kaletka, James Fernane, Brian O’Leary and Aaron Fleming all in range from either side of the arc to see them lead 17-4 midway through the first. James Leigh and Rory Lindane kept the hosts in touch but the Warriors finished the quarter the stronger with two threes from O’Leary and one from Aaron Fleming giving the visitors a 29-13 quarter time lead.
The Warriors scoring rate dropped in the second allowing the hosts to eat into the quarter time lead through Ciaran Harrington, Killian Devitt and Danny Lavander. However scores from Fernane, Fleming, Michalczuk and Dan Bowler kept the Warriors well in front at 46-34 up at the long break.
The third quarter proved to be the decisive for the Warriors as they simply blitzed the Clare board with scores coming from all angles effectively settling the contest. Padraig and Aaron Fleming, Michalczuk, O’Leary, Kaletka, Bowler and Jack Tobin all found the Cascaders basket and despite resistance in the form of scores from Harrington and Lindane, the Warriors took a game winning 85-44 lead into the final quarter.
The Warriors saw out the win in style in the final quarter with a sustained offensive effort building on the three quarter time lead. The Cascaders chipped away with scores from Leigh, Lindane, Harrington and Tom Kinch but Warriors captain Daire Kennelly, Adam O’Keeffe, Fernane, Bowler and the Fleming brothers Padraig and Aaron helped themselves to baskets to seal an impressive 105-58 win in the end.
Back Row L to R: Adam O’Keeffe, Jack Tobin, Daniel Bowler, Daire Kennelly Capt., Brian O’Leary, Aaron Fleming.
Front Row L to R: James Fernane, John Feely, Olaf Michalczuk, Padraig Fleming, Zigi Kaletka.
Scorers:
Clare Cascaders: James Leigh 13, Ciaran Harrington 12, Rory Lindane 11
Tralee Warriors: Olaf Michalczuk 22, Aaron Fleming 18, Brian O’Leary 14
Next up for the Warriors is a home date against Tipperary Talons in Mercy Mounthawk Gym on Sunday 19th November with tip off at 7.00pm.