Big guns continue to set hot pace

THERE is a familiar look about the NIVEA for MEN SuperLeague table as the halfway point of the season approaches.

Champions, 11890 Killester, and last season’s beaten finalists, UL Eagles, recorded emphatic victories as they continued their impressive form.

Eagles franked the previous week’s National Cup form with a 94-61 victory over UCC Demons at the University Arena on Saturday night to reinforce their position at the top of the Southern Conference with their star American, Cameron Mitchell, producing 27 points and 20 rebounds.

Demons, without injured captain, Shane Coughlan, as well as Marcus Van, were unable to match Limerick’s Carlton Cuff and Neil Campbell who combined for 34 points.

Eagles’ coach, Mark Bernsen, said: “No one did anything too spectacular, we were just able to tire them out with intense defence and our ability to play our entire bench. Because everyone played well, we were able to keep the score board ticking.”

And it is going to be difficult to dislodge 11890 Killester from the top of the Northern Conference after they overwhelmed UCD Marian 77-54 in their Dublin derby.

Killester’s defence held UCD Marian’s James Crowder to nine points and the champions enjoyed a 20 point half time lead and Marian could not counter Jermaine Turner’s performance that yielded 21 points.

“I was happy with the first-half performance but we took our foot off the pedal in the second-half and that can’t happen again,” Killester coach, Mark Keenan, said. “We relaxed a bit in the second-half and shots weren’t falling but we have one more game to focus on before Christmas and we are as determined as ever to make it back to the Cup finals.”

Bord Gáis Neptune built on big opening baskets from Michael Bonaparte and Ger Noonan to seal second position in the Southern Conference with a 10 points win over DCU Saints.

With a 22 points contribution from Eoin Darling, Saints reduced the margin to three in the second half but Bonaparte and Noonan solidified Neptune’s position with a combined 53 points.

“This is the first game that we have led from tip to final buzzer and it’s a great sign that we can rally and still come out with a win,” Neptune coach, Pat Price, said.

“However, 89 points is more than what we want to give up so we need to learn to stay disciplined throughout the entire game.”

It may be cold comfort but Belfast Star avenged their shock Cup loss by beating Ulster Elks 86-65 to maintain their SuperLeague record over their neighbours.

Cup champions, DCU Mercy, marked their return to SuperLeague action with an 81-43 victory over Oblate Black Forge Dynamos that thrilled coach, Mark Ingle ahead of a crunch clash with UL next weekend.

“Our defence was good and since we have a few injuries this was a great opportunity for our younger players to step in and get some experience,” he said “We got on top early and had a quick line up on the floor so it suited us to play a hard pressure defence ahead of a tough weekend.”

UL set themselves up for next weekend’s encounter with their first victory in Dublin beating 11890 Killester 79-52.

Irish International veteran Michelle Fahy contributed 22 points for UL with Natalie Taylor on 21 and coach, James Weldon, expressed relief after their Cup loss. “We had a big Cup hangover but this win gives us confidence ahead of our tough double header next weekend,” he said.