Confident Tigers aiming to teach students a lesson

TRALEE TIGERS are determined to build on their confidence-boosting victory in Limerick last Monday when they travel to UCD tomorrow in week four of basketball’s NIVEA for Men SuperLeague.

The Tralee side will be full of confidence following their superb win on Monday over previously unbeaten Limerick Lions.

There seems to be a new found spirit in Tralee, with Bosman player Luke O’Hea sparking the Tigers. UCD will be a tough challenge however, with a 2-1 start to the season in the Northern Conference.

Lorcan Precious is outstanding on the point, hitting a game high 42 points against Shamrock Rovers Hoops last weekend. Moberly and Glover are also a threat inside and this game will definitely be a cracker.

Undefeated UCC Demons travel to northern conference table-toppers Merry Monk Ballina, fresh off their 31-point pasting of Tralee Tigers, while the Mayo unit staged a surprise comeback to catch Roma St Vincent’s last weekend.

Again it was Demons’ bench that inflicted serious damage, as they are averaging over 40 points per game from the substitutes.

They will be up against the fine shooting Ronan McGarrity and Dan Zapior, while Evan Pellerin is having a fine rookie campaign in the point.

Gary Johnson leads the charge for Demons, while Michael Doles’ versatility has caused nightmares for opponents. This is an intriguing match, and with the winner will come further expectations for silverware this season.

After their Bank Holiday Monday setback, Limerick Lions will be keen to get back to their winning ways when they take on Roma St. Vincents tomorrow night.

The Dubliners play with a strong base of Irish players, playing a fast and physical game. Emmet Donnelly top-scored on 20 points last weekend against Ballina with his brother David following on 16 points.

MDS Star make the trip to Cork to take on Neptune. Despite their sluggish start to the season, Star are hoping that the return of Dajan Smith for tomorrow night’s game will kick start their season. Neptune are still without captain Stephen McCarthy after he picked up a groin injury during their Cup defeat against UCD a month ago.

DART Killester travel to winless Gleneagle Lakers tomorrow night, who must start capitalising on the form of Justin Wingard (34 points, 18 rebounds) and Tim Sullivan (averaging 23 points). DAR’s Serbian Vladamir Radanovac is unlikely to start after picking up an injury against MDS Star last weekend.

The northsiders are also enquiring about signing Michael Westbrooks who has returned home from college in the States, and John Quigley is back on court after his absence last week.

In the Women’s SuperLeague, table-toppers Carna Transport Coolock travel to Waterford to battle Bausch & Lomb Wildcats.

Tomorrow

Men’s Superleague: UCD v Abrakababra Tigers, Belfield 7.30pm; Merry Monk Ballina v. UCC Demons, Ballina 8pm; Neptune v. MDS Star, Neptune Stadium 8pm; Limerick Lions v. Roma St. Vincents, UL 8pm; Gleneagle Lakers v. Dart Killester, Pres Killarney 8.30pm.

Women’s Superleague: UL/Aughinish v. Peugeot Meteors, University Arena 6.30pm; Mustang Sally’s v. DART Killester, Pres, Killarney 6.45pm; Bausch & Lomb Wildcats v. Carna Transport Coolock, Mercy Gym 7.30pm.

Men’s Division 1: Queens v Sligo All-Stars, Queens PEC, 4.30pm; Longford Falcons v NUIG, The Mall, Longford, 7.30pm; Waterford Crystal v Newport, Waterford 7.30pm; Limerick Lakers v. Galwey Auct. St. Mary’s, Scoil Carmel, 7.45pm.

Junior Men’s Cup: Glanmire v Shamrock Rovers Hoops, Neptune Stadium 4.30pm.

Senior Men’s Cup: DART Killester v. Moycullen, Greendale 5.30pm.

Women’s Division 1: Sligo All Stars v. UL Aughinish, Sligo SC 5.30pm.

Sunday

Women’s Superleague: Oblate Dynamos v. Vienna Woods Glanmire, Oblate Hall Inchicore 3.30pm.

Women’s Division 1: Team Blarney v Athlone, Parochial Hall 2.30pm.