University of Galway Maree entertain Belfast Star in Saturday's InsureMyHouse.ie Pat Duffy National Cup quarter-finals in the first of back-to-back home fixtures against the North Conference leaders. (7pm at Calasanctius College )
They go into cup action having enjoyed an excellent start to the Super League season, which continued last weekend with an 80-72 win over Tralee Warriors to maintain their top of the table position after eight games.
On this occasion they had to dig deep, forced to overcome a nine-point deficit with just five minutes remaining. However, Jarrett Haines tied his season-high with 32 points, including several clutch free throws late on.
A bumper crowd at Tralee Sports Complex on Saturday night did their best for the home side, having relinquished a 14-point third-quarter lead last time out against Belfast Star. But they did not get off to the best start as UC Maree's Joe-Junior Mvuezolo and Haines drill back-to-back threes, before Rodrigo Gomez produced a beautiful behind-the-back assist.
However, the first quarter was largely nip-and-tuck, and soon they had a slender advantage on which to build. De'Ondre Jackson was in determined form in-and-around the paint against his former ball club, before Gomez, with a pair of triples, and Haines added to the visitors' tally.
Zvonimir Cutuk's block to deny Matija Jokic's layup attempt was the first in a series of timely defensive stops by Maree, who made it increasingly difficult for their hosts. After a scoreless spell, Tralee Warriors' offensive rebounding helped them dunk their way back into a one-point game.
Although John Burke claimed a three-pointer during a busy second quarter, UG Maree scored just 13 points as their hosts pressed them into turnovers and frequently profited. Tralee's lead increased to eight after half-time, though they would later rue their inability to convert a succession of good looks in the paint.
It was a fast-paced, end-to-end battle as Galway went about cutting down the deficit. Haines scored 14 of his 32 points in a nail-biting fourth quarter, as he and Mvuezolo pushed the pace.
Tralee's swinging momentum saw their lead was cut to two, but then they enjoyed a seven-point run and looked certain to close out a hard-fought victory.
However, Eoin Rockall picked the right moment to drain a three-pointer for Maree - 19 seconds after Daniel Jokubaitis did the same up the opposite end. Haines followed suit on Galway's next possession and, just like that, the tide turned once more.
Kieran Donaghy fouled out of the game after hauling down Mvuezolo as he charged towards the basket, before the 26-year-old made both free throws. With a slender lead, Cutuk drilled a three-pointer before Gomez displayed clever game management to wind the clock down, but when fouled, he made both foul shots to ensure a well-earned win for UG Maree.
Scorers for University of Galway Maree : Jarett Haines 32, Zvonimir Cutuk 12, Joe-Junior Mvuezolo 12, Rodrigo Gomez 9, Paul Freeman 5, Eoin Rockall 5, John Burke 3, Stephen Commins 2.
University of Galway Maree: Eoin Rockall, Rodrigo Gomez, Jarett Haines, Joe-Junior Mvuezolo, Zvonimir Cutuk.Bench: Stephen Commins, Ben Burke, Zach Light, Matthew Sweeney, Garry Fernane, John Burke, Paul Freeman.Garvey's Tralee Warriors: Eoin Quigley, Kieran Donaghy, Daniel Jokubaitis, De Ondre Jackson, Matija Jokic. Bench: Aivaras Uosis, Daire Kennelly, Jack Tobin, Andree Michelsson, Keelan Crowe, James Fernane, Padraig Fleming.
