Basketball Ireland Men’s Super League 2024/2025 – Round 6
Garvey’s Tralee Warriors 96
Belfast Star 73
Garvey’s Tralee Warriors have continued their perfect start to the season by adding Belfast Star to the list of teams they have seen off to make it six from six in their best ever start to a League campaign. An incredible display of three point shooting, in particular Daniel Jokubaitis with 7 and Brandon Mahan with 6, and 13 of 18 majors scores, helped the Warriors to comfortably account for one their keenest rivals.
The Warriors looked prepared to take care of business from the moment Rap Buivydas fired in two major efforts either side of another from Eoin Quigley and when Brandon Mahan got in on the act the lead was out to 12-7. Conor Quinn, his brother Aidan and Max Richardson hit a three each to keep the Warriors in check but when Mahan’s hot hand landed another pair of majors the Warriors led 23-20. Richardson edged Belfast ahead with his second three but Buivydas drove to the board to square the game at 25-25 at quarter time.
Mahan’s long range radar was back in play early in the second when he shot on sight for another quick double and with Marquavian Stephens in range and Josh Osayanrhion with a spectacular dunk the Warriors blew the lead out to 40-27. The Warriors continued to seek out open looks and when they got them they simply couldn’t miss. Quigley added his second before Daniel Jokubaitis turned on the style with three absolutely cracking threes and despite Tamyrik Fields landing from either side of the arc, the Warriors were comfortable at 55-37 up at half time.
The Warriors onslaught showed no sign of relenting in the third when they continued to land scores from beyond the arc with another hat trick of trademark Jokubaitis threes added to by Stephens and Virgin Media MVP Brandon Mahan. Belfast’s resistance was too little and too infrequent but Maurice Jones did manage a quick fire 10 points. However, the Warriors had the League points in the bag when Osayanrhion was again on the mark as they stretched their advantage to 76-59 at three quarter time.
Belfast Star had no answer to the Warriors offensive threats and struggled to summon the reserves to mount any sort of a comeback. Cian Sullivan came to add a double under the board and Jokubaitis couldn’t resist another swish finish to bring his personal tally to seven from distance. Young guns Zigi Kaletka and Olaf Michalczuk entered the fray late on with Michalczuk knocking down a brilliant long range effort to bring the Warriors three-point tally to 18 for the game. Max Richardson and Max Cooper fired in from outside with a pair of consolation scores but the gap was still out to 89-69. The Warriors saw out the win in style with Sullivan and Osayanrhion landing efforts from close range as Belfast were showing clear signs of fatigue from the previous night’s win over Killorglin, but truth be told, this game was over a long time before the final buzzer sounded.
Garvey’s Tralee Warriors: Daniel Jokubaitis 25, Brandon Mahan 23, Marquavian Stephens 9
Belfast Star: Maurice Jones 19, Max Richardson 14, Tamyrik Fields 10, Conor Quinn 10
Next up for the Warriors is another home date against Maree on Saturday 9th November with tip off at 7.30pm at the Tralee Sports Complex.
Thanks to Liam Ryan for the images.