Basketball Ireland Men’s Super League 2024/2025 – Round 7
Garvey’s Tralee Warriors 107
Maree 75
Garvey’s Tralee Warriors sit proudly on top of the Mens Super League table after brushing aside the challenge of Maree in comprehensive fashion by 107-75 at the Tralee Sports Complex on Saturday night to bring their winning run to seven straight wins. With the fixture only fully confirmed to take place on Thursday morning due to Maree’s appeal of sanctions relating to registration of players, the Galway side looked decidedly deflated before a ball was even bounced. On the other hand the Warriors side were high on confidence and tight in defence and with five players scoring in double digits the League points were secure a long time before the final buzzer sounded
The Warriors stormed into the contest with Daniel Jokuabitis and Mark Stephens combining for double each and when Brandan Mahan knocked down a tough three after Rap Buivydas had opened his account, the hosts led 16-5. Maree were stunned and but for major efforts from Zvonimir Cutuk and Jarett Haines with two the game could have been blown wide open. The Warriors offensive machine did not relent and Jokubaitis with his first three of the night sparked another run of scores from Joshua Osayanrhion, Eoin Quigley, Stephens, Buivydas and Cian Sullivan to see the Warriors lead 33-19 at quarter time.
Cutuk edged Maree closer with the opening score of the second quarter but the Warriors again got to work and Buivydas continued his good form to fire in from inside and out. By the time Stephens, Jokubaitis and Mahan all added the gap was suddenly out to 46-26. Maree’s resistance came largely from the hand of Haines with efforts from either side of the arc and a three from Joe Junior Mvuezolo but the Warriors defence was not allowing the visitors gain any traction around the key. At the other end Sullivan added his second late on and Stephens stepped through the Maree rearguard to lay up bringing the first half to a close with the Warriors leading 53-34.
Buivydas and Virgin Media MVP Jokubaitis lit up early in the third to add a quick fire 10 points but Maree negated those through Haines, Mvuezolo, Cutuk and Nathan Davis to hold to lead to 63-46. However, Warriors captain knocked down his second three of the night between baskets from Mahan from inside and outside to push their advantage out to 25. A technical to the Maree bench was punished by Jokubaitis before Mahan, Stephens and a brilliant and-one from Osayanrhion stretched the lead even further and despite two late baskets from Cutuk, the Warriors headed into the fourth quarter 27 points ahead.
The final quarter saw Maree, to their credit, continue to seek out scores and a half dozen threes from Mvuezolo, Davis and Huw Bevan kept the score reasonable but the Warriors baskets kept coming from Stephens, Buivydas, Mahan and Osayanrhion. The biggest cheer of the night was reserved for Steven Bowler who came on to nail a corner three to the delight of the big home crowd. The cheers continued when John Dowling emptied the bench to have five young Tralee players on the court and with Bowler, James Fernane and Olaf Michalczuk all in range late on it provided a glimpse of the strength in depth of the Warriors squad as they took their League winning tally to seven on a final scoreline of 107-75.
Garvey’s Tralee Warriors: Brandon Mahan 20, Rap Buivydas 19, Daniel Jokubaitis 18
Maree: Jarett Haines 20, Joe Junior Mvuezolo 20, Zvonimir Cutuk 16
Next up for Warriors is a trip to Sligo to take on EJ Sligo All-Stars who were very unlucky to be pipped by a single point after double overtime by the Warriors nearest League rivals Éanna, who themselves come to Tralee in mid-December for what promises to be a titanic battle.
Thanks to Liam Ryan for the images.