Killester enhanced their buffer in the Men's Super League after they emerged 103-93 winners from their top-of-the-table clash with Garvey’s Tralee Warriors in Tralee Sports Complex on Saturday evening.
Looking to avenge their 19-point reversal at the hands their Kerry rivals back in October and remain at least three points clear at the summit, the Dubliners stretched their narrow two-point advantage at the break into a 22-point lead with four minutes to go, Kason Harrell and Paul Dick again delivering the heavy hits with a total haul of 52 points.
And while Tralee kept battling right the way down the stretch, with Marquavian Stephens and Brandon Mahan serving up 49 points between them, they could only get it back to within 10 by the full-time buzzer.
UCC Demons moved clear of Tralee in second place after they ran out 90-75 winners over Bright St Vincent’s in Mardyke Arena on Saturday afternoon.
Elijah Tillman registered a game-high 28 points and won 14 defensive boards for the hosts, while Patrick Robinson also contributed significantly with 23 points and eight rebounds to help weather a strong test from their Dublin rivals, whose challenge was powered largely by JaRon Thames and Samuel Henderson’s combined 47 points.
Irish Guide Dogs Ballincollig @MTU bounced back from last week’s one-point loss to Belfast Star with an 88-82 triumph over EJ Sligo All-Stars in MTU Arena.
Down by eight points midway through the final quarter, the hosts battled their way back for a victory that also served as some measure of revenge for their loss to Sligo in the last eight of the Pat Duffy National Cup in December.
Defending champions Griffith College Éanna got the year off to a positive start as they ran out 80-65 winners over Maree in University of Galway Kingfisher, Joshua Wilson bagging 18 points and 10 rebounds for the Dubliners, while Maree’s Miles Brown emerged the game’s top scorer on 20.
Flexachem KCYMS stole a march on Templeogue in the opening quarter and again in the third to emerge 97-71 winners from their encounter in the National Basketball Arena, Clayton Ladine and Jeffery Okeke totalling 56 points on the night, while combining with Nathaniel Powell for a huge 38 rebounds.
It was a productive double-game weekend for UCD Marian as two home wins against Energywise Ireland Neptune (116-84) on Saturday and Belfast Star (96-85) on Sunday saw them move up four places to sixth in the table.
Lovre Tvrdic made a huge impact for the Dublin side across the two fixtures as he emerged from the weekend with 55 points, 23 rebounds and six assists, UCD boasting five players in double digits on Sunday, including Jonathan Jean and Oscar Blanco on a combined 37.
