MATCH REPORT

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Sat 2nd December Tralee SC@20:00
SuperLeague South Conference
Abrakebabra Tigers	Neptune
Wilder August
James Mooney
John Teahan
Michael Quirke

TIGERS SINK NEPTUNE

By Padraig Falvey

Tigers pulled off an amazing win led on by some amazing 3pters from James Mooney to retake the top position in the Southern Conference. Mooney pulled off a man of the match performance and was helped with some tireless efforts from Teahan and Quirke.

First Quarter

The first quarter began with Tigers taking an early lead through Auguste with an excellent 3pointer to put the score 15-10 with 5mins on the clock which was followed by some excellent defensive rebounds and a 2 pointer by Holden to put the score 17-10 at 4mins. Neptune failed to answer with some sloppy offensive passing and gave Mooney and Mooney the chance to link up giving Mooney another 3 pointer putting the score 20-10. Neptune then answered with a 2 pointer from Forward O’Brien. At 2.30 on the clock a Patterson 2 pointer was answered by a Reddy 3 pointer immediately followed by a Mooney 2 putting the score 24-15. Another McGinn 3 pointer followed and then O’Brien was fouled twice in a row and stuck 2 for 4. And the quarter ended 24-20 to tigers.

Second Quarter

The first score came at 10mins from Reddy for Neptune which was followed by Wilder getting fouled and hitting 1 of 2 putting the score 25-22. Then both teams did well defensively, with Teahan working hard for Tigers on both sides of the court which lead to a foul on McGinn and 2 shoots on the 8min mark. McGinn then went 0 for 2 free throws giving tigers control again. However they failed to capitalise and a technical foul gave Neptune 2 free points from Joyce cutting the deficit to 25-23. This was followed by four more points which included a dunk from Baker on the 6 min mark which put Neptune in the lead 25-27 on the 6min mark. Two more points from Baker was then answered by Dave Fanning who could only go 1 for 2 at the line. Then both teams went basket for basket with O’ Brien and Patterson scoring for both sides. Then Tigers tailed 28-31 when Auguste hit a 2 pointer putting the score to 30-36. Wilder and Liam Culloty then scored 1 of 2 free throws giving Tigers 2 more points which were then answered by an O’Brien 2 pointer putting the score to 32-37. Tigers then got 5 more points to close the lead but then failed to close down McGinn and gave Neptune a three before the buzzer finishing the score at half time at 37-41.

Third Quarter

The second half started strong defensively with the first score coming from the 1min mark with an Auguste 2pointer followed seconds later by an O’Brien 2. Gary Walsh then stepped up with another impressive 3 pointer which was then followed by a Dave Fanning lay up which put the score to 41-46. Then a Reddy 3pointer on the 8min mark was followed by Quirke getting fouled and he went to the line. Quirke then hit 1 for 2 which is followed by Patterson rebound which gave Tigers possession, however Tigers failed to get anything out of it and gave Neptune 1 free throw out of 2 from the line, which was followed by another 2 from Baker which left the score at 42-52.This was followed by another Walsh 3 pointer which increased Neptune’s lead 42-55.Wilder then went to the line twice and put Tigers just 9 behind. Some tough defending by veteran Patterson gave Tigers possession leading to a spectacular 2 from Wilder underneath the board, putting the score to 48-55.The rest of the quarter was back and fourth which began with some huge defensive play from both teams until O’Brien broke the dead lock with a 2 pointer followed by another by McGinn with 2 points of his own. Mooney then answered that with 4 points putting the score to 52-59. Wilder then stepped up and pulled off an amazing 3 pointer which put Tigers 4 points behind. Tigers then got 2 more points to finish the quarter at 57-59 with just 2 points behind.

Fourth Quarter

Mooney started the game with an inspirational 3 which was followed by a 3 pointer by Neptune which put the early score at 63-59. Wilder then hit 2 baskets in a row which put the score to 67-62. Finally Baker stepped up for Neptune and hit a 3 to bring Neptune back into the game. This was followed by both teams going basket for basket with Baker hitting 2 and Patterson hitting one of his own. Mooney then went to the line hitting 1 for 2 putting the score to 80-68 and Neptune looked shattered. 2 more baskets 1 from Quirke who was inspirational today, then another from Auguste put the score at 84-68. Neptune then gathered their troops inspired by their animated coach hit a further 5 points however it looked like only one player Muzik wanted the win. He hit basket after basket, however Auguste was too strong to keep off the board finishing the game 89-77

MAN OF THE MATCH WINNER JAMES MOONEY