Jokubaitis the shooting star in thrilling Kerry derby win for Warriors
Daniel Jokubaitis finished as top scorer for Tralee Warriors with 24 points. Pic: Eóin Noonan/Sportsfile
Tralee Warriors completed the double over fellow Kerry Super League side Flexachem Killorglin CYMS before a packed house in the Killorglin Sports Complex.
It was a thrilling contest that swung one way and then the other and just when Warriors looked to be home and hosed leading 85-78 with just 22 seconds remaining, a three pointer by Ron Elksnis closed the gap to four. Mark Stephens converted two from two from the charity line but Beni Fungula drained another three and Killorglin were just three behind.
The home side were forced to foul and Jokubaitis punished them with two more free throws. Okeke nailed another three pointer with three seconds left to leave it 89-87 but Ryan Leonard secured the win for the Warriors with two more from the free throw line as Warriors held on to win by four. They remain in third place while Killorglin are now dicing for a play off place with 9-12 record.
It was the combined talents of Daniel Jokubaitis, Ryan Leonard and Rap Buivydas that saw Warriors win this tough derby with Jordan Blount and Beni Fungula the star performers for Killorglin.
It was a typical end to end start to a derby game as Irish international Blount sank three from outside the perimeter to give Killorglin a 9-4 lead but Brandon Mahan replied with another three.
Powel and Fungula kept Killorglin in front but Mark Stephens on the drive and Ryan Leonard on the pick and roll ensured that it was a 19-15 game approaching the end of the opening quarter.Â
Blount nailed a deuce in a physical battle in the paint but Jokubaitis drained the first of his five first threes before Eche Okeke sank another from down town to give Killorglin a 24-20 first quarter lead.
The home side then went on an 12-2 run with Okeke sinking two jumpers while Okeke drained the eight points and suddenly Killorglin had raced 36-22 in front. But Jokubaitis got hot from three point line sinking three in a row Rap and Mark Stephens chipped as a Rap Buivydas three tied the contest at 42-42.
The sides were level on 47 apiece at half-time but Warriors, once they led for the first time since the opening minute 49-47, began to dominate. With Killorglin in foul trouble, Jokubaitis continued to hurt Killorglin. The game always looked to be going the Warriors way until that dramatic conclusion that almost saw Killorglin force added time.
D Jokubaitis 24, M Stephens 22, R Buivydas 19..
E Okeke 22, B Fungula 21, J Blount 21.
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