Moycullen Super League basketballers hit the road this weekend when they travel to Dublin to face KUBS on Saturday (8pm ).
With just two home fixtures left in the season, a February 25 game against cup champions Templeogue, and a March 10 tie with league leaders UCD Marian, Moycullen will need to start picking off more teams on the road.
KUBS should provide Moycullen with that opportunity as the Dubliners remain scoreless at the bottom of the league, and a win would certainly see the Galway outfit close the gap on the top four.
They lost that chance last weekend against UCC Demons despite a solid start, losing in the end by 85-72.
In what was a crucial game in the battle for the final playoff spot, Moycullen hit the ground running, connecting on a string of early three pointers to take a 12-point lead before Demons got off the mark.
Demons, and particularly their American star Lehmon Colbert, fought back into the contest, but the home side finished the first quarter with a 25 to 16 lead.
Through some excellent shooting from James Loughnane and Brandon McGuire, Moycullen’s offence continued to look sharp. Unfortunately they began to find it difficult to contain Demons' attack that rapidly improved as they game progressed, and they found themselves down by seven at the break.
It did not get any better as Moycullen trailed by seven, 57 to 64, entering the fourth. Demons’ solid play, and ability to score difficult baskets over tough defence helped the visitors halt Moycullen 's march, despite the outstanding defence of Dylan Cunningham and the continued shooting excellence of James Loughnane.
“We felt like we were the better team and should have won on our home court,” said Dylan Cunningham after the game.
“We probably didn’t take advantage of our dominance early on. They converted when they had their run and that was the difference.”
Moycullen: James Loughnane, Brandon McGuire, Dylan Cunningham, Patrick Lyons, Paul Freeman, Cian Nihill, Joseph Tummon, Kyle Cunningham, James Lyons, Paul Kelly, Connor Curran.
