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Daniel Jokubaitis in full flight. Photo: Liam Ryan
Alan Cantwell reports on the InsureMyVan.ie Mens Super League – Round 7 game at the Neptune Stadium on Saturday night…
EnergyWise Ireland Neptune 83
Garvey’s Tralee Warriors 93
Garvey’s Tralee Warriors produced their best performance of the season to secure their first away win of the campaign with an impressive 10 point win over EnergyWise Ireland Neptune in Neptune Stadium on Saturday night.
The Warriors turned around a six point deficit at half time to steadily edge their way back to lead at the end of third and go on to see out the victory that sees them move to four wins from seven played ahead of another tough trip to Cork to face UCC Demons next weekend.
Neptune’s preparation for the game was overshadowed by their Head Coach since 2019 Colin O’Reilly being relieved of his duties midweek and further hampered by not having the services of either Cian Heaphy or regular point guard Roy Downey.
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Despite all that, Neptune got off to the better start with Nil Sabata opening the scoring and Shon Briggs and Jordan Blount on the mark either side of a Jonathan Lawton three to lead early on.
Ryan Leonard scores. Photo: Liam Ryan
The Warriors replied in kind with a double from Jarvis Doles and when Ryan Leonard and Eoin Quigley fired down major scores either side of Lawton’s second three the visitors led 14-12.
Briggs added to give the advantage back to the hosts with a quick fire eight points and Lawton’s third three of the night had Neptune leading 22-16 at the end of the first.
The Warriors went on a run early in the second and were back in front when Doles, Leonard and Kieran Donaghy combined to edge them ahead.
They moved five points clear when new signing Ken Jah Bosley announced his arrival with a brilliant three forcing Neptune’s new Head Coach Paul Kelliher to call a time out.
The respite worked for the hosts as they steadied the ship to wrest back the lead through Blount, Briggs and Sabata and it got better for Neptune when Adam Heaphy knocked down a three to lead by five.
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Both teams were now in foul trouble and Rap Buivydas for the Warriors and Lawton and Blount for Neptune took full advantage from the line before Jokubaitis and Doles were in range to keep the home side in check.
Rap Buivydas and Nil Sabata battle under the board. Photo: Liam Ryan
However a combination of scores from Blount, Lawton and a buzzer beater from Heaphy saw Neptune lead 45-39 at the long break.
The Warriors got off to the best possible start in the third with Ken Jah Bosley’s influence on the game growing he added an early six point volley and when Jokubaitis hit 2 from 3 from an unsportsmanlike foul call on Heaphy the Tralee side were back on terms.
Lawton was on the mark again for Neptune with a floated effort but Leonard, Bosley and a brilliant finish by Donaghy restored the Warriors narrow advantage at the midpoint of the quarter.
Ken Jah Bosley scores. Photo: Liam Ryan
The lead changed hands again when Briggs and Sabata converted from close range but the Warriors turned the tables late in the third with a stunning display of outside shooting from Jokubaitis who hit threes absolute belters from distance to push the visitors 66-64 ahead going into the final quarter.
The Jokubaitis hat-trick gave the Warriors the momentum they required to drive for home and took the game to Neptune with another offensive onslaught that yielded them 16 points.
Jarvis Doles in action. Photo: Liam Ryan
Bosley impressively added a quick fire nine points including a three and a dunk from Doles and an effort from inside from Leonard saw the Warriors lead 82-71 with five minutes on the clock.
The Neptune resistance came in the form of scores from Lawton and Blount from inside and out but the Warriors were now in full control as the minutes ticked down. Two fouls back to back threatened to derail their efforts with Jonathan Lawton hitting five from five from the line to cut the gap back to six.
However indiscipline from the home side allowed Bosley and Doles to take full value and restore the Warriors double digit lead.
Eoin Quigley aims for a basket. Photo: Liam Ryan
The game was effectively secured with a Jarvis Doles steal on Blount and seconds later Doles himself was on hand to finish after an alley oop assist from Bosley and fittingly it was the MVP on the night Daniel Jokubaitis who hit the final basket of the game to seal the impressive 93-83 win.
Scorers:
EnergyWise Ireland Neptune: Jonathan Lawton29, Shon Briggs 20, Jordan Blount 17
Garvey’s Tralee Warriors: Jarvis Doles 23, Daniel Jokubaitis 22, Ken Jah Bosley 20
• Next up for the Warriors is another trip to Cork on Friday night to take on UCC Demons. The Warriors will be lifted by their big win in Neptune and having secured their first road win will be keen to quickly add another.
Demons on the other hand will be smarting from their defeats to both Maree and Moycullen in their last two games. It is very nicely set up. Tip off at the Mardyke Arena next Friday is 7.30pm.
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