The margin of victory was a lot closer than the twenty seven point National Cup final demolition of a few weeks back, but Ballincollig still had too much firepower as they defeated Tralee Warriors in this vital Super League game.
The win moves Ballincollig into second, one win behind Belfast Star who have a game less played. The Cork outfit are looking good for a top four spot but Tralee Warriors need to finish the season strong to make the play offs.Â
They remain tied for 7th position on 8 wins, one shy of Eanna and UCD Marian. Their hopes of a Top 4 finish still hangs in the balance with six games left.Â
Warriors sank the opening two buckets through Daniel Jokubaitis and Steven Bowler but Adrian O’Sullivan pulled up with two from the charity line and a lay up from a turnover to claw it back early on.
Ballincollig then raced 16-4 in front thanks to Latrell Jossel and Diego Herlihy draining threes. Lativious Mitchell scored a jumper soon after and it looked as if Ballincollig were on a cup final rampage again.
Successive threes from Jokubaitis and Quigley saw the home side claw their way back into the game.Â
Jossell drained a deuce and Cairns a three as Ballincollig moved 21-12 clear.
Warriors finished the quarter the stronger with Bowler and Cian O’Sullivan playing solid defence and despite a Josh Steel basket, O’Sullivan and Olaf Michalczuk replied confidently for Warriors.
Jokubaitis nailed one from outside the arc and Warriors closed the gap to just five (24-19) after the first quarter.
Adrian O’Sullivan drained an early three for Ballincollig in the second but Warriors took control as Ballincollig’s offence became ragged and they failed to score for six minutes.Â
Jokubaitis drained a couple of important threes during this spell and later hit another three to move his side 34-26 ahead.
Mitchell with a three and two more baskets slowly dragged Ballincollig back into the contest.
Quigley and Bowler responded but Warriors took a 40-35 half time lead to the dressing rooms.
In the third, Ballincollig suffered a setback when Ciaran O’Sullivan picked up a fourth foul.
Steel and Mitchell began to hurt Warriors with some excellent buckets as they applied a full court press. Warriors moved eight clear after a Perkins three and a Michalczuk three brought the lead to seven with three minutes left in the quarter.
Ballincollig then went on a 13-4 scoring burst before the end of the third – Steel and Mitchell contributing – but Perkins restored Warriors lead with another three. A Luttrell buzzer beater gave Ballincollig a 62-61 lead at the end of the third.
It was nip and tuck down the stretch as both sides traded baskets. However, once Mitchell gave Ballincollig the lead with 3 minutes to go, Warriors just could not get their shots to sink, as Mitchel and Luttrell saw Ballincollig over the line.Â
Warriors had enough chances to win it but their shooting was off.
L Mitchell 25, L Jossell 21, J Steel 13Â
D Jokubaitis 19, J Perkins 13, S Bowler and I Hunt 12 each.
