Quigley snatches late winner for Tralee Warriors to push Killorglin closer to relegation

MATCHWINNER: Eoin Quigley of Tralee Warriors in action. Pic: Eóin Noonan/Sportsfile.

Garvey’s Tralee Warriors 91 Flexachem KYCMS 90

Warriors look to have condemned Flexachem KCYMS to relegation barring a miracle as they snatched a late basket in this high octane Superleague local derby at MTU Sports Hall on Wednesday night.

Warriors had lost their last four home games, while Killorglin knew that they had to win, as they face an away game at Limerick Celtics on Saturday. They needed at least one win to avoid relegation, with Neptune breathing down their necks.

Jordan Blount gave Killorglin dream start, scoring seven of his sides first 13 points as they raced 13-8 in front in inside the opening five minutes with Jordan Perkins draining a pair of deuces for the Warriors while Jokubaitis and Daniel Bowler also scored in the paint.

An Eoin Quigley three closed the gap but Rami and Okeke were scoring too easy inside as Killorglin moved 20-13 in front with four minutes left in the quarter.

Jokubaitis then drained a three from downtown as the Warriors’ intensity improved and Perkins driving to the Killorglin basket saw him close the gap to two as the first quarter ended, 25-24 in Killorglin’s favour.

The tension was palatable in the second quarter as Letcher Ellis drained seven quickfire points and Killorglin moved 34-29 in front.

But Warriors, mainly through Steven Bowler and Jordan Perkins, fought back with Perkins unstoppable as he drained eight points and Jordan Blount then received a technical with two minutes left in the half.

Perkins nailed the free throw, and Eoin Quigley sank a three and suddenly Warriors were now five clear (41-36).

But Killorglin finished the half the stronger with five points from Okeke to see the sides level at 43-43 apiece.

Warriors were finding it difficult to handle Letcher Ellis in the paint as Eoin Quigley picked up his fourth foul for upending Letcher Ellis, who sank both from the charity before adding a bucket.

Warriors were defensively poor and were lucky that Daniel Jokubaitis caught fire in this quarter draining 12 points as Warriors moved seven clear.

But Killorglin were hanging on to Warriors coattails thanks to four points from Blount, a deuce from Letcher Ellis and a three on the buzzer from Grudov to see the game on a knife edge, 66-62 at the end of the third.

It was now a game that was going to be won down the stretch as Bowler, Olaf Michalczuk sunk vital baskets.

But an intentional foul by Jokubaitis saw Killorglin back in the game thanks to Letcher Ellis and then despite Perkins and Jacko pushing Warriors five clear, Liam Croke drained two three pointers from the corner and suddenly Killorglin were two in front.

But Olaf and Jack netted threes in a thrilling climax but Blount and Okeke responded as Killorglin led 90-89 with 18.1 seconds left. Warriors soon called a timeout and from their final possession Eoin Quigley tipped a Perkins effort in with only 4.1 seconds left.

Killorglin must now beat Limerick Celtics on Saturday and hope Neptune lose to UCD Marian. Warriors are safely through to the playoffs.

Top Scorers

Warriors: J Perkins 29, D Jokubaitis 21, I Hunte 15.

KYCMS: Letcher Ellis 23, J Blount 21. E Okeke 18.