InsureMyVan.ie Men’s Super League 2023/2024 – Round 3
Garvey’s Tralee Warriors 91
Templeogue 88
Garvey’s Tralee Warriors made it two wins from two at home, but only just, as they edged a Templeogue side who kept the game alive right to the final buzzer. In the last seconds of the game it fell to proven sharp shooter Neil Randolph to send the game to overtime but his last gasp effort rimmed out to hand the Warriors their second win of the season.
The Tralee side fired their way into an early lead through Daniel Jokubaitis and Rap Buivydas and when Javis Doles hit three in a row the hosts led 11-3. Lorcan Murphy and Stephen Stafo combined to cut the lead back to a single score but Cian O’Sullivan launched himself the contest with a five point volley to put 8 points between the sides. Templeogue struck back with Mahki Morris and Kris Arcilla on the mark and a late exchange of free throws from Jack Wright and Jarvis Doles left the Warriors leading 22-19 at quarter time.
A Rap Buivydas double allied to a six point salvo from Jokubaitis early in the second sparked a Templeogue response through Jack Wright and a double from Stephen Stafo and by the time Murphy and Justin Steers combined for Templeogue there was just the minimum between the sides midway through the quarter. Buivydas continued to torment the Templeogue defence and when Ryan Leonard added the home side edged ahead but Lorcan Murphy was never far from the basket and hit from inside and two from two from the line to keep his side in touch. The Dublin side finished the half the stronger with a typical three from Neil Randolph added to by back to back scores from Morris to leave the visitors a score to the good at the long break.
The Warriors began the third quarter as they had the second with Jokubaitis restoring parity before point guard Johnny Williams chose his moment to fire his way into the game with an add one before arcing in two cracking three pointers to push the Warriors 53-44 ahead. Virgin Media MVP Rap Buivydas continued his hard work under the Templeogue board and was rewarded with another two scores but the visitors responded through Callum McGrail, Stafo and Murphy. Leonard and Randolph exchanged major scores before Williams was again on the mark from outside, inside and the line. However Templeogue kept themselves right in the contest with Morris adding a seven point volley to end the quarter with his side trailing just 67-63.
Images courtesy of Liam Ryan
Jarvis Doles gave the Warriors a quick start from the line in the final quarter and scores from Leonard, Williams and Buivydas ensured the hosts continued to set the pace. Morris and Steers however added from outside and an inside effort from Stafo cut the gap back to a single score. Eoin Quigley edged the Warriors ahead but Stafo and Morris again combined to level the game at the midway point. Baskets from Jokubaitis and Doles either side of a McGrail score for Templeogue had Warriors 87-83 up with 1.03’’ on the clock. Williams again weaved his way to the board to score but at the other end three point shooter Randolph was clearly tasked by Mark Keenan to be the man to snatch an unlikely win. Fouled outside the arc, Randolph added two from three from the line to keep his side in with a chance and when he landed a monster effort with the next play it left just a single score between the sides. A last gasp Templeogue turnover gave their shooter one more attempt from distance and with two seconds on the clock Randolph’s effort from beyond the arc rimmed out to see the Warriors just about hold on to win by 91-88 in the end.
Scorers:
Garvey’s Tralee Warriors: Johnny Williams 24, Rap Buivydas 21, Jarvis Doles 14
Templeogue: Stephen Stafo 18, Lorcan Murphy 17, Mahki Morris 17
Next up for the Warriors is a home date with Bright St. Vincent’s who come to Tralee winless after three games after defeats away to Belfast, at home to Ballincollig and away to EJ Sligo AllStars last night. However with Kevin Anyanwu hitting 39 points in Sligo and the likes of Roosevelt Davis and former Templeogue star Michael Bonaparte in their ranks they are capable of giving the Warriors a true Super League test.
Tip off next Saturday night at the Tralee Sports Complex is 7.30pm.