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Alan Cantwell was in Dublin for the InsureMyVan.ie Men’s Super League 2022/2023 – Round 10 game on Saturday night…
Griffith College Templeogue 75
Garvey’s Tralee Warriors 89
Eoin Quigley one handed score over Luke Thompson Photo: Liam Ryan
Garvey’s Tralee Warriors made it back to back wins on the road as they comprehensively accounted for Griffith College Templeogue at the National Basketball Arena in Tallaght on Saturday night.
The score line belies the dominance the Warriors enjoyed after an all-out offensive assault in the first two quarters that yielded 37 and 20 points respectively to effectively settle the contest by half time.
It was a hugely impressive opening quarter from the Warriors that stunned Templeogue into early submission and from the moment Dre Jackson fired in the opening score with a three it set the tone for what was to follow.
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The scores simply rained down and when Jackson hit his third score of the game after Aivaras Ousis, Daniel Jokubaitis and Matija Jokic were in range to see the Warriors lead 13-3 up Mark Keenan had to call a timeout to stop the charge.
However despite efforts from Enrique Mellini and James Gormley, the Warriors drove on to fire their way mercilessly into a 30-5 lead with inside and outside scores of the highest quality from Jackson, Jokic, Ousis and Jokubaitis.
Matija Jokic scores over James Gormley Photo: Liam Ryan
Scores from Callum McGrail and Francis Mulvihill were simply tokens as Eoin Quigley opened his account and Jokubaitis again landed from distance to see the Tralee side 37-9 to the good at quarter time.
The offensive effort continued early in the second with Quigley, Kieran Donaghy, Andrée Michelsson and a double from Jokic firing the Warriors even further ahead.
Despite Templeogue’s response with majors scores from Luke Thompson, Neil Randolph and Kris Arcilla the gap was still all of 30 points.
Aivaras Ousis fires in a three Photo: Liam Ryan
Quigley, Ousis and Jackson combined to keep the relentless scoring going and defensively the Warriors were also bossing affairs.
Randolph hit his second three of the evening and Mulvihill laid up right on the buzzer for the hosts but at half time the Warriors still led comfortably by 57-28. The pace of the game understandably slowed and the Warriors defence loosening slightly in the third quarter to allow Templeogue chip away at the sizable lead.
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Randolph, Mulvihill and Arcilla all struck from beyond the arc but at the other end the Warriors were still posting some cracking scores with Aivaras Ousis landing a stunning baseline drive to dunk over the Templeogue rear-guard and Dre Jackson dunking a spectacular alley-oop.
Daniel Jokubaitis banks in a score Photo: Liam Ryan
Jokic rounded out the scoring for the visitors with a powerful drive to the basket but Templeogue through McGrail and a Daniel Carberry three cut the gap to 72-49 at three quarter time.
Warriors captain Fergal O’Sullivan added his name to the three point roll of honour early in the final quarter but Templeogue replied in kind with majors from Randolph and Mulvihill.
Despite their early dominance the Warriors lead started to dwindle as the clock counted down and with Randolph, Mulvihill, Gormley and McGrail combining the Warriors fans that travelled to headquarters began to wish for the final buzzer to sound.
A quick fire hat trick of scores from Mulvihill brought the gap right down to 10 with 2 minutes on the clock.
Dre Jackson on the mark for Warriors Photo: Liam Ryan
However the Warriors maintained their composure and found scores when they needed with Jokic landing another tough effort from under the board either side of four quality efforts from the outstanding Jackson to seal a comfortable 89-75 win in the end.
Scorers:
Griffith College Templeogue: Francis Mulvihill 23, Neil Randolph 16, Callum McGrail and James Gormley 8
Garvey’s Tralee Warriors: Dre Jackson 34, Matija Jokic 20, Daniel Jokubaitis 11
• Next up for the Warriors is a crucial showdown with UCC Demons who currently occupy the fourth playoff place on the South Conference table. Action takes place in the Mardyke Arena in Cork on Friday 30th December with tip off at 6.00pm.
On behalf of Garvey’s Tralee Warriors players, management and committee I would like to wish everyone a safe, peaceful and happy Christmas and the very best wishes for a great 2023.
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