The Kerryman (South Kerry Edition)
Tralee Warriors pass DCU exam with ease
Irish TV Tralee Warriors 78 DCU Saints 60
THE final scoreline might suggest that Kerry’s Superleague standard bearers coasted to a comfortable win in round five last Saturday in Tralee, and while the final margin of victory was quite convincing it certainly doesn’t reflect the overall exchanges with the visitors who were without Martins Provizors, Kevin O’Hanlon and Arkadijs Mazarenko, providing a strong challenge for the duration, even if Warriors held a scoring advantage in double figures for long periods of the encounter.
Dusan Bogdanovic sat out the entire encounter with an injury, but even without the input of the 6’11” power forward Warriors still had a vital advantage in height, and capitalised fully with 6’10” Goran Pantovic imposing his considerable presence on proceedings. His scoring input in the initial stages of proceedings meant that Warriors were 12 to 2 in front at the midway point in the opening quarter.
The Warriors certainly were full of purpose and intent at the outset with Kieran Donaghy influencing matters with an input which impacted on all facets of play, and Trae Pemberton incisive in offence converting neatly and efficiently.
A slam dunk from Pantovic after availing of Donaghy’s assist meant that Warriors led 24-9 at the end of the opening quarter with Pantovic having contributed fourteen points up until this juncture. He along with American Trae Pemberton sat out the start of the second which saw the introduction of Paul McMahon, who made an immediate impact. Indeed at one stage in this particular quarter five Tralee players were on court together with coach Mark Bernsen rotating players off the bench continually.
Warriors maintained an advantage in double figures, even if on occasion they mixed some spectacular play with some very ambitious, indeed careless, and wayward passing, but, three point scores from Donaghy and Pemberton just before the break sent them to the dressing rooms 42-29 in front.
They resumed with their regular starting five on court. Pemberton coast to coast, converted clinically, Donaghy continued to play a prominent role, and at the midway point it was 57-33 in favour of Warriors. However, threes from Brannelly and Davidson, initiated a revival from the Saints, but a similar score from Fergal O Sullivan in the final minute meant that sixteen points (6044) separated the teams going into the fourth quarter.
However, the visitors still continued to pursue the issue with a lot of endeavour, and, a scoring surge reduced the deficit to single figures, 64-57, with 4.46 remaining. Momentarily, Warriors looked to be in trouble, and, faced a real challenge to see the game out, but, the response from the home side was immediate and heart warming with Pemberton and Leonard netting vital baskets to stretch their side’s lead to ten, 70-60, with 3.14 left on the clock. Warriors ultimately built on that lead with Pantovic finishing as he started, strong and dominant at both ends of the court.
The win, Warriors fourth in five League outings, has kept them right up there at the top end of the table in joint second spot in terms of games won, along with UCD Marian and Swords Thunder. Unbeaten Templeogue are the stand alone leaders.
Given their elimination from the Cup one week ago coach Mark Bernsen was anxious to get a response from his squad in front of the home support, and, generally he was pleased with the performance and obviously the result.
“I think this was another of those nights where we started with a different line-up than we have had ever before and I think it’s our fifth or sixth different lineup so we are always trying to fiddle with things, and we have got some injuries, we have massive injuries. I thought we got the ball inside well with a pass or with a drive, so that was our goal. We tried to go inside and I thought we did that for the most part. I was just proud that we came out and found a way to win. (DCU) won some big games on the road so they are a handy side. They were without their big men and it was one of those games.
“Any time in this League any night anybody can beat anybody. Anytime you have a loss there’s always doubt, your self confidence drops. It’s important to hurry up and get a win and get your confidence back and hopefully we did that. We played a little better than we did last week, we didn’t turn the ball over quite as much. I don’t know what is going on with the rest of the League. We will play them as they come, the schedule is what it is.
“Again, we had a nice crowd and the crowd helps us. I think our guys feed off that, at times we gave them a few things to yell about and scream about and I think that helped us.”