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Alan Cantwell reports on the Men’s U20 National League 2022/2023 – Quarter Final held on Sunday in Tralee Sports Complex…
Tralee Warriors 88
Maree 80
The U20 Warriors side.
With their senior counterparts looking to make the final eight in Super League next weekend, the Warriors U20s negotiated their way past Maree to secure their place in the final four of the National League by winning out 88-80 in an entertaining and full blooded encounter at the Tralee Sports Complex on Sunday.
Both sides gave everything in a tight battle but an early scoring blitz from the hosts in each of the third and fourth quarters gave them the edge to see out the win in the end.
The sides went score for score early and a hat trick of baskets from Warriors senior player Aivaras Ousis was added to by Donal O’Sullivan but Maree levelled with scores from Comhghail McCormack, Evan O’Rourke and Jake Morris.
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Maree pushed on with three scores from Ben Burke and Morris to lead by 8 but Eddie Sheehy, Eoin Creedon and Ousis reeled the visitors in to edge ahead.
However the Galway outfit finished the quarter in style with a double from McCormack either side of a lay-up from Huw Bevan to lead 24-21 at quarter time.
Gary Lynch fired in from distance early in the second for the Warriors but Maree increased their quarter time advantage through the impressive McCormack with a double and another from Bevan to lead 32-27.
Daniel Bowler got into his scoring rhythm with three typical efforts from under the board and when Eddie Sheehy meandered his way to the Maree board the sides were level.
However Maree again finished the quarter in the ascendancy with McCormack in range from both sides of the arc and a floated effort from Ben Burke giving the visitors a deserved 40-35 lead at half time.
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The Warriors cut loose early in the third and another couple of scores from Bowler either side of an inside score from O’Sullivan was added to by a stunning three from Ousis to see the hosts take the lead again.
Maree responded well with Morris and O’Rourke combining for a quick fire 10 points but a double each from Bowler and Ousis kept the Warriors in front.
Evan O’Rourke fired in from inside and out but Ousis had the final say in the quarter with two cracking three points efforts to see the Warriors lead by 60-57 at the end of the third.
Eoin Creedon pushed the Warriors further ahead in the fourth with two brilliant identical corner threes and Ousis backed that up with a floated two to put double digits between the teams.
The Warriors went for kill after McCormack and O’Rourke cut the gap back to single figures and the relentless Ousis chalked up his fourth and fifth major scores of the evening to spread the game completely.
However Maree had no intention of giving the Warriors safe passage to the semi-final and McCormack and Behan combined to halve the advantage.
Bowler steadied the Warriors ship again and when Adam O’Keeffe entered to fray to knock down a three the lead was back out to 18. In a frantic finale Maree went on a late scoring spree that saw them land the last 10 points of the game.
However it was too little too late as the Warriors lead was simply too big and in the end the hosts held on to see out the win and secure their place in the National League semi-final.
Scorers: Tralee Warriors – Aivaras Ousis 32, Daniel Bowler 22, Eddie Sheehy 12
Maree: Evan O’Rourke 25, Comhghail McCormack 24, Ben Burke 12
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