All-Stars maintain play-offs push with superb away result
SCORE INTENT: Tom Child with a layup attempt for EJ Sligo All-Stars against Bright St Vincent last weekend.
AS THE business end approaches in this season’s Basketball Ireland InsureMyVan.ie Men’s Super League, EJ Sligo AllStars are getting down to business.
Last Saturday’s eventually excellent 105-95 defeat of Bright St Vincent at the Carroll Arena, Greendale, made it back-to-back wins in the top flight for EJ Sligo All-Stars, who continue their push for a place in the play-offs.
But EJ Sligo All-Stars, who were superb in overcoming Irish Guide Dogs Ballincollig@ MTU at the Mercy College gym on the weekend before last, didn’t have it all their own way at the Dublin venue.
Bright St Vincent’s were in front at half-time, 54-50, and going into the fourth quarter, 75-73.
Although the visitors scored more in the first quarter (26-20) and third quarter (23-21), a scoring surge from the hosts during the second quarter, where they scored 34 points compared to 24 from EJ Sligo All-Stars, left the Sligo club with a lot to do in the fourth quarter.
They stepped up, however, and 32 points, with their opponents answering with 20, ensured a sixth win in 14 games for EJ Sligo All-Stars.
Chrishon Briggs was the winners’ primary score-getter – he landed 40 points – as Giorgi Tvalabeishvili and Christian Williams each scored 20 points in a game that saw the return of Oisin O’Reilly, although Cian Lally remains unavailable due to his Gaelic football commitments with Sligo.
EJ Sligo All-Stars, who are seventh in the overall standings and fourth in the North Conference (which is a play-off position), are at home this Saturday when they host Garvey’s Tralee Warriors at the Mercy College (tip-off 7.30pm). This is one of four home games that EJ Sligo All-Stars have left to play. EJ Sligo AllStars lost to Garvey’s Tralee Warriors last November in the InsureMyHouse.ie
Pat Duffy Men’s National Cup.
EJ Sligo All-Stars senior men’s squad (v Bright St Vincent’s): Mark Chambers, Finn Hughes (2 points),
Sean Snee (2), Aidan Lockhart, Tom
Child (12), Oisin O’Reilly, Jamie Hayes
(6), Giorgi Tvalabeishvili (20), Christian Williams (20), Chrishon Briggs (40), Tyler Mutemasango (3)
The number of games that EJ Sligo All-Stars have won in this season’s Super League.