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Interactive Hang-Time News by Email Hoopchat Frequently Asked Questions Wildcats rejoice in double capture as Killester close in
Without even bouncing a ball this weekend, Waterford Wildcats completed their second ESB League and cup double, and took what was their sixth ESB Women's League title in seven years.
Tolka Rovers 71-80 defeat by University of Limerick ensured Wildcats the title with two games left for the new champions this season after another astonishing campaign by the south-east side.
The men's title is not yet finalised but with six games remaining, Killester now look unstoppable in their quest for the first league cup double since 1994, and their first league title since 1976. Their win over Demons’ today, and Tralee's Tigers extra-time defeat to BurgerKing Limerick yesterday has made their path to the title that bit smoother and the chasing pack need them to lose at least two games before they play the Tigers on March 10th. In the unlikely event of them dropping two games by then, Tigers would need to beat them by at least 19pts to dent their title ambitions.
ESB Women’s League
University of Limerick 80(40) 71(32) Tolka Rovers J Aherne 18 29 S Maguire C Fennell 17 19 R Kelly J Murphy 15 Tolka Rovers were a depleted side for this game –missing Angie McNally and Elaine Scally, and also without Vanessa Burke who has left the team since the Cup weekend. Suzanne Maguire was outstanding for the defending champions, while Rachel Kelly also worked tirelessly, but Tolka still trailed by 8pts going in at the break. UL were on form, inspired by some white-hot three-point shooting by Carol Fennell and strong inside work by Jillian Aherne and Sinead Leahy in defence. Despite efforts to inspire a comeback by Maguire, UL held on for the 9pt win that ended any hopes Tolka had of prizing the ESB League trophy from Wildcats.
Sasha Meteors 53 60 Thorn Killester ESB Men’s League
Gleneagle Killarney 100(51) 116(57) Neptune M Carter 35 46 C Watson T Smith 20 27 G Fitzgerald J Lee 16 16 A Meyers This was a game that Neptune were always in control of. Led by American Charron Watson who was outstanding on the night and Gordon Fitzgerald the Cork side broke into a 25-10 lead midway through the first quarter. Gleneagle responded through Maurice Cater and the introduction of Jarlath Lee improved matters for the home side reducing Neptune's advantage to 33-28 at the end of the first quarter. Neptune led 40-30 after three minutes of the third quarter but a three pointer from Sean O' Connor and four successive baskets from Carter saw Gleneagle enjoy their best spell and the sides were level at 43 each with 4:14 left in the first half. Neptune remained in control through Watson to lead 57-51 at half time.
The visitors opened up a ten-point lead again but the beat efforts of Carter and Terry Smith kept Gleneagle in contention to trail 83-76 as the game entered the final quarter.
Neptune led 88-82 after two minutes but they broke away through Watson and Andy Meyers to lead 94-84 with five minutes left. A Shane Horgan three-pointer gave Gleneagle a glimmer of hope to cut it to 94-87 but Neptune finished stronger and with Fitzgerald and Stephen McCarthy prominent, the Cork side's advantage was never really threatened in the closing minutes.
Hibernian UCD Marian 109(61) 108(50) Waterford Crystal K Ward 40 27 D Shoultz C Akers 22 24 D Cunningham G Edge 17 22 E Blair Hibernian UCD Marian came from five points down with 1.17 on the clock to pip Waterford Crystal 109-108 in a close encounter at UCD An excellent team performance from Marian, with superb individual shooting from Ward saw Marian control for most of the first half of the game, and they enjoyed a comfortable 11pt margin going into the third quarter.
But an in- form David Cunningham and good work from point guard Dean Kavanagh saw Waterford cut the deficit and the last quarter was a tense and close affair.
Waterford led by five through Shoultz and Cunningham with 1.17 to go, but baskets from Ward saw Marian level the game at 107 apiece going into the last 20 seconds.
Eric Blair was fouled by Akers and went to the line, but he only made 1/2 to put Waterford 108-107 in front. Kevin Ward proved to be the hero on the night - grabbing the winning basket just before the final whistle as Marian pulled ahead to win109-108.
Star of the Sea 93(49) 86(37) O’Hagan Saints K Mc Farland 31 25 C Doyal G Maguire 19 18 P Shuttlesworth 16 S McGuirk Burger King Limerick 97(81)(48) 90(81)(42) Frosties Tigers C Brown 38 38 38 R Leonard BJ McFarlane 19 14 R Turner
Tyrone Towers 82 84 Hibernian UCD Marian
Big Al’s Notre Dame 94(50) 72(39) Tyrone Towers L McMillan 23 26 Brian Howard Lester Hunt 22 13 J L Supervia B Hughes 20 11 T Hughes Big Al’s Notre Dame took control of the game early on in the first quarter and never looked threatened by Towers, who had just eight players on their bench. With Lennie McMillan shutting out Charles Mason fore three quarters, it was left to new signing Brian Howard (who played with Longnecks Ballina in the cup) to be the main offensive threat for the visitors. He had a good opening quarter, hitting 8pts, made 10pts in the second quarter to bring his first half tally to 18pts. He continued to cause Big Al’s problems in the third quarter, with another 8pts, but crucially was kept scoreless by some good marking by Paul Cummins and Brandon Hughes and that snuffed out any outside hope of a late Towers rally.
For Big Al’s, Lester Hunt worked hard inside and was unstoppable under the boards in the first quarter. Lennie McMillan stunned the crowd by playing tough defence for the entire game and also were his teams leading scorer with 23pts. Brandon Hughes continued as one of Big Al’s most consistent performers with 20pts and numerous assists as the home team ran out easy winners.
Esat Business Demons 69(35) 79(41) Thorn Killester J Esteck 30 22 J Leahy J Wiley 21 14 D Sealy B Clernon 6 12 E Jackson Killester led from the start in this game – with neither side really performing to their full potential. Killester knew a win today would make it virtually impossibly for any team to take the title from their grasp and set about the task in hand from the start, while Esat Business Demons were slow off the mark. John Esteck battled hard for the home team and his inside work kept Demons close in touch with Killester, but the titleholders in wait never looked to be in trouble.
Star of the Sea 93(46) 85(44) Tolka Rovers Scott Summersgill 20 34 Brad Linder G Jackson 19 13 G Haffner K McFarland 17 12 D Halbeur Star played out a close 93-85 victory over an improving Tolka Rovers side to record their second win of the weekend and keep them in touch with the top of the table. The game was basket from basket from tip-off, with little between the two teams for most of the game. Scott Summersgill gave the homeside a narrow 2pt lead going in after the half time whistle. Inside scores from McFarland and Jackson saw Star of the Sea take a lead midway through the third quarter, but Tolka fought back through Linder to cut Star’s lead to just 2pts with 2 minutes left in the game. But Scott Summersgill – who had a great game – hit a three-pointer for Star to extend their lead to 5pts with three minutes to go. Tolka resorted to fouling to stop the clock, and Star punished them from the line with Jackson, Summersgill and McFarland all hitting 100% from the line to see Star pull away to win by 8pts.
Frosties Tigers 93(51) 82(37) Abbey Foods Sligo R Patterson 38 26 C Holmes R Turner 27 21 P Bree J Teahan 12 12 D Halbeur Frosties Tigers came out to play from the start of this game and ran up an early 12pt lead over Abbey Foods Sligo. Tigers were smarting after their disappointing extra-time defeat last night to Limerick and were intent on putting this game to bed early on. Roscoe Patterson made 28 of his 38 points in the first half as together with Robbie Turner he tormented Sligo’s defence. Sligo battled hard with Paschal Bree in particular outstanding for the North West team and Chad Holmes working hard inside against the Patterson and Leonard, but by half-time Tigers had run up a 14pt lead and the game was over as a contest. Coach Dave Falvey played his second five for most of the third quarter and all of the final quarter as Tigers ran out easy winners in a one sided contest.
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