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Caleb Jordan arcs in a three over Lucas McGregor. Photo by Liam Ryan
Alan Cantwell reports on the InsureMyVan.ie Men’s Super League 2023/2024 – Round 14 game on Saturday night…
Garvey’s Tralee Warriors 91
Flexachem KCYMS 76
Garvey’s Tralee Warriors avenged the early season defeat to Flexachem KCYMS with a 91-76 win in front of a bumper sell-out crowd at the Tralee Sports Complex on Saturday night.
Killorglin had the better of the exchanges in the opening quarter before the Warriors moved up the gears and with a 29 point second and 30 point final quarter asserted their authority in the contest to win by 15 in the end.
Killorglin got off to a flying start with Scott Angus hitting a hat trick of score, Lovre Tvrdic netting a double and Kendall Jacks opening his account and despite a cracking three from Daniel Jokubaitis and a tough inside score from Caleb Jordan, the visitors led 15-5 at the midway point in the first quarter.
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The Warriors cut the gap to 4 with Jokubaitis, Jordan and captain Eoin Quigley all in range but Killorglin restored a double digit lead through Tvrdic, Terry Winn and a three from Lucas McGregor and despite a late effort from Rap Buivydas Killorglin led 22-13 at the end of the first.
Warriors captain Eoin Quigley fires in from distance. Photo by Liam Ryan
Killorglin pushed their lead out to double scores early in the second with two from Jacks but when Jokubaitis fired in a hat trick and Jarvis Doles followed with a double the Warriors were back on terms.
The hosts pressed up on Killorglin and it paid dividends when Jokuabitis forged another three point effort and when Rap Buivydas hooked in from close range the sides were level at 31 points apiece.
The Warriors had real momentum now and Doles fourth basket of the quarter was quickly added to by another trademark Jokubaitis three and the hosts suddenly led by 5.
Terry Winn provided Killorglin with some respite with back to back scores and McGregor’s second three of the night levelled the game again. However Caleb Jordan’s late basket saw the Warriors lead 42-40 at the long break.
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The third quarter saw the sides level on no fewer than five occasions as the game hung in the balance. Kendall Jacks levelled the game with his fourth of the night but scores from Jordan from inside and outside and Quigley were countered by Tvrdic and Winn and the sides remain deadlocked at 48-48.
Daniel Jokubaitis in typical three point shooting style. Photo by Liam Ryan
Liam Croke’s corner three edged the visitors ahead but Jokubaitis immediately hit back with his fourth major of the evening. Killorglin inched ahead again through Winn and Jacks but the Warriors ended the quarter in style with a Jordan double and a typical fadeaway effort from Doles gave the home side a 61-58 lead at three quarter time.
The Warriors seized the initiative early in the fourth when Jarvis Doles, Steven Bowler and Jokubaitis all fired in from distance and had the Warriors fans up out of their seats.
Daniel Jokubaitis lays up a score one-handed. Photo by Liam Ryan
Killorglin scrambled to find the target but baskets from Winn, Jacks and Angus saw the visitors pare the Warriors lead back to 72-67.
However John Dowling’s charges set sail for home with a 14 point volley firing their way to a 17 point lead. Jordan, Doles and Jokubaitis all continued to torment the Killorglin defence and the only resistance coming from Terry Winn with four scores in a row netting 9 points.
The final act of the game saw Olaf Michalczuk take centre stage with a showstopping three pointer to put the finishing touch to the 91-76 win.
Garvey’s Tralee Warriors: Daniel Jokubaitis 27, Caleb Jordan 23, Jarvis Doles 19
Flexachem KCYMS: Terry Winn 19, Kendall Jacks 17, Lovre Tvrdic 17
Eoin Quigley nets from close range despite the attentions of Scott Angus. Photo by Liam Ryan
• Next up for the Warriors is the first of four away trips in the last five games of the regulation season when they take on EJ Sligo Allstars. The Warriors overcame Sligo in the opening round of the National Cup in Tralee but since that game Sligo have secured the services of Chrishon Briggs who left Neptune mid-season and has been outstanding since his move west.
It promises to be a real test for the Warriors as the hosts will be buoyed by a recent win against Ballincollig and Saturday night’s win over Bright St. Vincent’s in Dublin. Tip off next Saturday at the Mercy College in Sligo is 7.30pm.
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