Basketball: Round Up
Moycullen saw off a late comeback from Ulster Elks to secure victory in the Nivea For Mens SuperLeague, while also on Sunday, UCC Demons inflicted more woe on DCU Saints and UL Eagles excellent start to the season continued away to Belfast Star. .
On Saturday evening, Neptune maintained their recent good form with an eight point success away to HOOPS.
Moycullen are certainly beginning to settle into life in the top flight of Irish basketball after securing their second win in a row at the expense of Ulster Elks on a scoreline of 93-84 on Sunday.
Enda Byrts side had 12 points to spare at the interval but the home side rallied in the final quarter but it wasnt enough to prevent them from a seventh consecutive defeat. Recent recruit Nathaniel Fritsch made a big impact in the Westeners success, contributing 33 points in the win.
It was a worrying type of game, said Moycullen Head Coach Enda Byrt. We were looking good, had a nice lead but Ulster Elks have such a good shooting team and brought it back to just four points in the final quarter.
Cian Nihill was also fouled out so that increased the worry for us but we held on against a really good side in Elks. Our guys are coming together as a team and I am delighted to get a win away to a team with so many talented players.
UCC Demons are showing a real return to the form they showed last season after recording a thumping 102-73 win at home to DCU Saints.
The Saints only trailed by three points at the break but had no answer for Demons dominance in the third and fourth quarters.
Joshua Johnson was a huge thorn in the Saints side, managing to contribute a tally of 44 points, while Irish duo Niall OReilly and Shane Coughlan were in their usual menacing form.
I am very proud of the players particularly with a few players out, said Demons Head Coach Luke DAlessio. We lost Michael Plichta before the game but we never used it as an excuse and everyone, including players who are not getting a lot of court time, really stepped it up.
DCU went in front by a point in the third quarter but our response was phenomenal. We are getting better every week and showing a great deal of consistency in our game.
In Sundays final game, UL Eagles recorded their seventh consecutive win with a 105-77 win away to Belfast Star.
Star were without an American and faced an uphill task after the break where they trailed by 19 points.
Stuart Robbins continues to make his presence felt in the league with 35 points in the win as the Eagles sit comfortably at the top of the Southern Conference.
Neptune Head Coach, Pat Price, believes their 84-76 win over HOOPS wont have too much of a bearing when the sides meet again in the Mens SuperLeague National Cup Quarter Finals next weekend.
It should be another cracker of a game, said Price. We can definitely take the knowledge we have gained from this win but its an entirely different contest next weekend. HOOPS are a tricky side, their coach Ahmad Smith is doing a good job, Phil Taylor is an excellent player, while we will have to produce another outstanding job on Carlton Aaron.
I am extremely pleased with how the team is gelling, he added. There is a tremendous team spirit and the statistics show we are improving all the time.
Neptune took control in the second quarter with Juwann James causing problems for the home side. The Cork side punished HOOPS for missing a number of simple lay with Stephen Sheehan and Michael McGinn securing three pointers to help them to a commanding 40-28 half time lead.
HOOPS closed the gap to just three with two minutes to go in the third quarter with Phil Taylor hitting two threes, while Namanja Vukanic and Carlton Aaron added further baskets.
However, Neptune held their nerve at the foul line in the closing stages with Gary Walsh, Juwann James and Ronan O’Sullivan all nailing their free throws to seal a deserved victory.
Meanwhile, in the IrishSport.TV Womens SuperLeague, UL emerged from a titanic tussle away to Killester, while DCU Mercy secured their fourth consecutive win away to Tolka Rovers.
On Sunday, Team Montenotte Hotel Cork made it five wins from five courtesy of a 91-50 away to Meteors.
UL Head Coach, James Weldon, was delighted his sides unbeaten record remained intact after their 67-60 win away to Killester but admitted they were given an almighty scare.
We certainly got out of jail, said Weldon. It was the toughest game we have been involved in this year. They shot the ball extremely well in the third and made it very difficult for us.
I was delighted to get away with a win and hopefully this will stand to us ahead of another tough game with them in the cup next weekend.
Team Montenotte Hotel Cork can also boast a 100% record after Irish international Niamh Dwyer hit the scoring heights with 33 points in their 41 point win over Meteors.
Mark Scannalls side held a 17 point lead at the break but took control after the re-start to ensure a comfortable win with Valarie ODriscoll and Marie Breen also contributing with 17 and 14 points respectively.
DCU Mercy will also head into their opening cup assault next weekend with confidence after a commanding 75-71 win over capital rivals Tolka Rovers.
Mercy lead by five at the break before Mark Ingles side took control in the third with the inspirational Lindsey Peat driving through the lane and creating for her team mates.
Shauna OConnor proved successful in the scoring stakes for DCU with 26 points, while Jolie Niland was top of the pile for Tolka with 19 points.
