Tralee Warriors withstand Flexachem KCYMS Killorglin comeback to shade Super League derby

Garvey's Tralee Warriors 92

Flexachem KCYMS 87

Garvey's Tralee Warriors registered their first victory since mid-November with a five-point win over local rivals Flexachem KCYMS in a pulsating Kerry derby in front of a full house at the Tralee Sports Complex on Wednesday evening.

The Warriors were straight into gear, building a 16-5 lead midway through the opening quarter including a seven-point volley from Rap Buivydas and a major score from Daniel Jokubaitis. It forced a KCYMS time-out to break the early Warriors momentum but out of it Mark Stephens and Brandon Mahan added to increase the home side’s lead.

However, in sign of things to come, KCYMS point-guard Clay Ladine drilled his first three-pointer of the game and instantly repeated the dose to help bridge the gap to 22-15 at quarter time.

Beni Fungula and Greg Adon exchanged major scores early in the second and Ladine made it three from beyond the arc to keep the Warriors lead to seven points. Eche Okeke fired his way into the game with a quick-fire hat trick but Adon with seven points either side of another Jokubaitis major kept the hosts in front.

Ladine lit up again and swished his fourth score from outside and with Fungula adding late on KCYMS cut the Warriors lead to 46-44 at half time.

Ladine's hot hand struck again early in the third but the Warriors went on a run to set up a potentially game winning lead. Buivydas was dominant under the KCYMS board with four scores, and with Mahan, Adon and Jokubaitis also getting in on the act the hosts quickly pushed the lead out to 65-51.

Ladine knocked down his sixth major before Fungula and Conor Murphy chipped in, but a double from Stephens saw Warriors maintain a significant 72-58 lead heading into the fourth.

Despite the 14-point deficit, Flexachem KCYMS, like Warriors, were also desperate to break their losing streak and Ladine looked like giving the visitors a real lifeline when three more 'lights out' major efforts cut the gap to single figures.

Jokubaitis, Adon and Buivydas steadied the Warriors ship but KCYMS captain Liam Croke sparked a quick run for the visitors with two threes added to by a double from Nathaniel Powell pared the gap down to four and suddenly it was very much game on.

A major effort from Adon and a combination of scores from Quigley, Jokubaitis and Mahan kept the Warriors two scores to the good but Ladine's 10th three-pointer allied to a Powell basket from close range threatened a smash and grab win for the visitors. However, with the spectre of overtime hovering over the finale, Warriors found a way out with Stephens landing the clutch score to seal the win by 92-87 in the end.

It was a cracking contest and a great derby between the two sides despite the absence of both Jordan Blount for the visitors and Ryan Leonard for the home team. The Warriors will be delighted to get back to winning games but for many the night will be remembered for a sensational shooting display by the KCYMS point-guard Clay Ladine who drained 10 three-point scores and spearheaded a comeback that the Warriors just about withstood.

Top scorers

Garvey's Tralee Warriors: Rap Buivydas 23, Brandon Mahan 19, Greg Adon 16 Flexachem KCYMS: Clay Ladine 34, Beni Fungula 17, Eche Okeke 16 Tralee Warriors have one more outing before Christmas and it is another stiff test as League champions Griffith College Éanna come to the Tralee Sports Complex on Saturday for a 7.30pm tip off.

Flexachem KCYMS, meanwhile, are not back in action until Sunday, December 29 when they head to the North West for a game against EJ Sligo All Stars with a 7.30pm start in Mercy College.