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Alan Cantwell on Warriors win at the complex on Saturday night…
Garvey’s Tralee Warriors 93
Belfast Star 86
Action from the game. Photo by Dermot Crean
Garvey’s Tralee Warriors opened their Super League account with a 93-86 win over Belfast Star at the Tralee Complex on Saturday night.
The reigning champions were anxious to turn around last weeks 73-72 defeat to Marian and in a game that saw both sides have periods of dominance the Warriors held their nerve late on to secure the valuable win.
Belfast Star opened proceedings with new signing Delaney Blaylock first on the mark followed soon after with another from Aidan Quinn. What followed was a stunning offensive display from the hosts that saw them land the next 17 points of the game.
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Rap Buivydas stormed into the contest with a three scores including an impressive three before Keith Jumper also hit a hat trick of baskets and when Ivan Bogdanovic opened his account the Warriors led by 12.
Back to back threes from Jonathan Lawton pushed the Warriors further ahead. However Star replied through Keelan Cairns and DJ Stancovic but when Jumper added another the home side led by 30-19 at the end of the first.
The second quarter started as the first had with two scores from the visitors this time through Cairns and Stancovic before Eoin Quigley, Paul Dick and Lawton combined for 8 points to push the lead out to 16.
Action from the game. Photo by Dermot Crean
Belfast responded through CJ Fulton, Quinn and Adam Ryan to cut the gap but two threes from Lawton and Darragh O’Hanlon either side of a trademark Keith Jumper dunk saw the Warriors maintain their sizable advantage.
Blaylock hit three from three from the line before Jumper powered in another typical score to see the sides go to the long break with the Warriors holding a 54-41 lead.
Belfast powered their way back into the contest early in the third with Aidan Quinn, Cairns, Fulton and Blaylock conjuring up a combined 9 points to cut the gap to 4.
Back to back threes from Paul Dick and Daniel Jokubaitis kept Star at arms length. Quigley and Buivydas added for the hosts before some Warriors indiscipline allowed Blaylock punish two indiscretions by calmly firing in four from four from the line and the sides turned for home with the Warriors 69-59 ahead.
Action from the game. Photo by Dermot Crean
Into the final quarter and both sides opened up to fire in some stunning scores with Fulton and Blaylock landing from distance and Blaylock also getting to the board from inside.
Bogdanovic, Buivydas and Jumper with a three were in range to maintain the hosts advantage. But the impressive Blaylock continued to steer Belfast back into contention and when he hit another three from three from the line the Warriors advantage was cut to just 6.
Darragh O’Hanlon and Quigley found big three point scores just when they were needed but CJ Fulton kept Belfast in with a chance of a second big League win in a row with a couple of brave drives to the board.
When Cairns arced in a stunning three for the visitors the Warriors faithful fans were left shifting in their seats. However their fears were allayed when a moment of class saw Paul Dick fire in a show-stopping three in the final minute and Lawton had the final word with two from two from the line to secure a hugely significant 93-86 win for the Warriors.
Scorers:
Warriors: Paul Dick 18 Jonathan Lawton 13 Rap Buivydas 13
Belfast Star: Delaney Blaylock 28, CJ Fulton 17, Keelan Cairns 15
Next up for the Warriors is a road trip to Dublin to face the unbeaten Eanna. Tip off in Colaiste Eanna is 7.00pm.
