Killorglin enjoy Maree win after overtime

MEN’S SUPERLEAGUE Keanes Killorglin 87 Maree BC 84 (after overtime)

AFTER back to back losses on the road against Neptune and Eanna, Keane’s Supervalu Killorglin enjoyed an overtime home win over Galway side Maree last Saturday.

Killorglin haven’t had the best of starts to the season, and their cause wasn’t helped when player/coach Colin O’Reilly was ruled out of the game with an injury picked up in training the night before.

Killorglin started brightly with the opening two baskets, before Maree responded with a three pointer from Eoin Rockall. Erik Flood and Pranus Skudauskus were both in good form early on for Keanes and they roared into a 17-8 lead halfway through the opening quarter. The quarter finished with a steal from Dalian Mason who made the floor length pass for Alann Thomas to finish easily to leave the score 24-13 at the end of the quarter.

Maree came flying back in the second and after just over two minutes of play, they had reduced Killorglins lead to a single point after scoring ten without reply. American Darin Johnson was doing most of the damage and Keanes were struggling to contain him. However, Keanes then went on a run of their own, and some great baskets from Flood and Thomas saw them go in at the big break up by seven on a score line of Killorglin 41 Maree BC 34.

The third quarter was a real ding dong battle with both teams playing some great basketball. Both Americans on the floor - Johnson for Maree and Thomas for KCYMS, were scoring for fun, but gradually Maree started to get on top. They outscored Killorglin 22-13 in the period to leave the score at the end of the third quarter Killorglin 54 Maree BC 56.

The last quarter was as exciting a period of basketball as you will find anywhere. Both teams had the game won and both teams had the game lost. Darragh Jones was outstanding for Keanes while Plaza was really showing his quality for Maree. Kenneth Hansbury made a three from well outside the arc to leave a point in it with only twenty seconds left, but crucially though, Keanes had the ball. They ran down as much of the clock as they could, before taking a shot which missed, and Maree fought hardest to get the rebound. They fed Johnson who went the length of the floor and he was fouled as he tried to make the lay-up. Two shots with two seconds left in a one-point game. The way Johnson was playing it was hard to see him missing, but pressure can get to all men, and to the delight of the home crowd, his first attempt bounced off the rim. He showed great composure though to make the second and the buzzer went on the retake to leave the final score Killorglin 76 Maree BC 76.

Overtime was a very tense affair with both teams matching each other score for score and miss for miss. However, right when it mattered, Allan Thomas really stepped up and took charge of the situation for Killorglin. After he made a bucket from his own offensive rebound, things were looking good for Killorglin – 85 to 81 with 29 seconds left.

Plaza made an insane three-pointer from near the halfway line to leave a point in it with three seconds left.

Crucially, Keanes had the ball, this time with an advantage they weren’t going to lose. Jones fed Thomas and Maree immediately fouled him and as they were in foul trouble, he was awarded and made two free throws to extend the lead and give Killorglin the win by three points.

Killorglin now have two more tough road trips up next, as they travel to play Templeogue and DCU Saints in their next two games, before the much anticipated visit of local rivals Tralee Warriors in the Cup.

TOP SCORERS

KEANES KILLORGLIN: Allan Thomas 36, Darragh Jones 14, Erik Flood14

MAREE BC: Darin Johnson 31, Paul Freeman 13, Eoin Rockhall 9