SEASONSTATS
EJ SLIGO All-Stars registered their biggest win of the 2023-24 season when trouncing Energywise Ireland Neptune by 24 points, 126-98, at the Mercy College gym last Saturday night.
Having qualified for the Basketball Ireland InsureMyVan.ie Men’s Super League play-offs on the weekend before last, there was zero pressure on head coach Shane O’Meara’s charges against opponents that came to Sligo on the back of five wins in 17 games.
But EJ Sligo All-Stars turned on the style, with Chrishon Briggs again contributing big scores, as they won for the ninth time in the top flight.
Briggs scored 35 points, with Tom Child and Giorgi Tvalabeishvili each breaking the 20-point mark with tallies of 23 points and 21 points respectively.
Christian Williams (19 points), Finn Hughes (10 points), Jamie Hayes (8 points) and Sean Snee (6 points) were the winners’ other main scorers in this cross-conference fixture.
EJ SLIGO ALL-STARS’ RESULTS SO FAR
BASKETBALL IRELAND MEN’S SUPER LEAGUE
Griffith College Éanna 89, EJ Sligo All-Stars 78 (September 30) (L); R2: EJ Sligo All-Stars 86, Belfast Star 93 (October 7) (L); R3: EJ Sligo All-Stars 97, Bright St Vincent’s 91 (October 14) (W); R4: Maree 92, EJ Sligo All-Stars 70 (October 21) (L); R5:
EJ Sligo All-Stars 86, UCC Demons 100 (October 28) (L); R6:
Sligo All-Stars 93, Pyrobel Killester 76 (November 18) (W); R7:
Templeogue 95, EJ Sligo All-Stars 90 (November 25) (L); R10:
EJ Sligo All-Stars 85, Griffith College Éanna 105 (Scheduled for December 30 but played on December 2) (L); Flexachem KCYMS 76, EJ Sligo All-Stars 94 (December 9) (W); R9: Ulster University 69, EJ Sligo All-Stars 86 (December 16) (W); R16:
Maigh Cuilinn 74, EJ Sligo All-Stars 63 (Scheduled for February 24 but played on January 6) (L); Belfast Star 98, EJ Sligo All-Stars 97 (January 13) (L); R12: EJ Sligo All-Stars 105, Irish
EJ Sligo All-Stars were nine points ahead at half-time, 63-52, after playing strongly in the first quarter and second quarter. They led 36-28 at the end of the opening period and outscored the visitors, 27-24, in the second period.
Things were closer during the third quarter, 31-30, with EJ Sligo All-Stars 12 points clear, 94-82, going into the
*Cup fixture – the rest are Super League games.
EJ SLIGO ALL-STARS’ REMAINING GAMES
BASKETBALL IRELAND MEN’S SUPER LEAGUE
Saturday, March 16 – EJ Sligo All-Stars v Ulster University (Mercy College, 7.30pm).
fourth quarter.
The home side went to town on Energywise Ireland Neptune in the game’s final period – they shot 32 points, which was double the Cork club’s return.
Energywise Ireland Neptune’s top scorers on the night were Derek Murphy (30 points), Roy Downey (21 points) and Che Yasin (13 points).
EJ Sligo All-Stars complete their regular season schedule with another home fixture this Saturday – this is their third successive game at the Mercy College – when they host Ulster University (Mercy College gym, 7.30pm). EJ Sligo All-Stars won 86-69 away to Ulster University when the sides met earlier this season (on December 16).