There was more success for Maree basketball at the weekend as both the mens and womens teams won in the Superleague, while the Moycullen men lost out to Dublin Lions.
MEN'S SUPERLEAGUE
Abbey Seals Dublin Lions picked up the elusive first win of the season on Saturday evening, taking a 63-48 point win over Moycullen in Dublin. A low scoring first half display saw the home side edge a 27-21 first half lead, thanks to brilliant scoring from Finn Hughes, who went on to finish the game with 17 points in an amazing display by the young guard. Lions' tails were up as they increased the lead in style with a great third quarter performance that was led by Hughes and good scoring from James Gormley to extend the lead to 43-30. Moycullen tried to push back in the fourth with Daniel Vila (17 points) but the combination of Hughes and Gormley stopped any Moycullen momentum.
Maree stunned DBS Éanna on Saturday evening, running out twelve-point winners over the Dubliners in Galway. The game was neck-and-neck in the first half, both teams struggling to gain the upper hand but Maree had the one point lead at the half, 38-37. Maree had a terrific third quarter, building a 14 point lead, with Darin Johnson and Orioles Balsells Plaza at the fore. Éanna were up against it in the fourth quarter and tried to rally back with Marko Tomic and Stefan Zecevic but Maree didn’t let up and kept the edge. Maree ran home the 76-64 win as the clock ran down.
WOMEN'S SUPERLEAGUE
Maree earned a big home win Saturday evening, as they overcame the challenge of Maxol WIT Wildcats 87-52 in Galway. Maree dominated from the start, with scoring from Claire Rockall and Carly McClendon to see them lead, 36-26 at the half. Wildcats had big scoring players of their own with Cathy Kavanagh, Jasmine Walker and Stephanie O’Shea all hitting double figures. The third and fourth quarter saw momentum stay with Maree though, as they were able to build on their early and they proved too much for the travelling Wildcats, running out comfortable 87-52 point winners.
Speaking after the game, Maree head coach Joe Shields said: “It was probably our best team performance so far this season. We knew we had to be at our best against a good Waterford side. It's the business end of the league now so every win is vital. It's been a serious season for us so far and the team have a togetherness and playing hard for one another.”
MENS SUPER LEAGUE SCORES
Maree 76-64 DBS Eanna
Abbey Seals Dublin Lions 63-48 Moycullen
Belfast Star 77-69 Keanes Supervalu Killorglin
Coughlan CandS Neptune 79-95 Griffith College Templeogue
DCU Saints 83-72 UCD Marian (after overtime)
Garveys Tralee Warriors 82-64 Pyrobel Killester
WOMENS SUPERLEAGUE SCORES
IT Carlow Basketball 68-87 Pyrobel Killester
Marble City Hawks 57-58 Singleton Supervalu Brunell
Maree 87-52 Maxol WIT Wildcats
Ambassador UCC Glanmire 85-71 Leixlip Amenities Liffey Celtics
DCU Mercy 96-71 Fr Mathews
