University of Galway Maree will be looking to get back to winning ways when they face a Flexachem KCYMS side at the Killorglin Community Centre on Saturday (7.15pm ).
While league leaders UG Maree registered only their second loss of the season, losing to North Conference leaders Belfast Star 86-62, Flexachem KCYMS recorded an impressive 45-point win over UCD Marian at the weekend.
It was a suitable revenge for Belfast Star having lost the previous week's cup quarter-final, but the result marks Maree's first Superleague defeat since late October away against UCC Demons, in what was a battle between two sides top of their respective conferences.
Belfast's leading scorer Chrishon Briggs, who posted 32 points last weekend, recorded a more modest 13 on this occasion, but his teammates benefited from his aggression in possession.
He scored 12 of their 26 points in the first quarter, forcing Galway to defend him tightly, though others pitched in with consistent scoring to help offset his scoring load.
Conor Johnston drilled a trio of triples during one of his best games of the campaign so far, while Max Richardson was a constant nuisance and perfect from the foul line, with 13 points in 18 minutes, and Maximillian Cooper finished with a joint game-high 19 points.
Jarrett Haines (19 ) and Zvonimir Cutuk (15 ) were Galway's best players in the scoring stakes. After Eoin Rockall's three-pointer briefly gave them a two-point advantage with little over four minutes left in the first period, they endured a 21-8 run over the next 10.
Belfast's lead ballooned and so did their confidence as Johnston's threes and frequent scoring from a variety of sources helped them overwhelm their hosts.
A 10-point second quarter was Maree's worst of the season so far, and that statistic was later compounded by a disappointing third period after half-time.
Just as the tide looked to be turning - Haines and Cutuk making three-pointers - a timeout stopped the surge and soon Belfast's 14-point lead was restored.
Conor Quinn gladly charged up the court and made an uncontested floater after stealing the ball, before drilling a three in their next possession.
Maree's chance of mustering an inspired comeback was dwindling by the minute as they continued to miss three-point looks, with Belfast pushing the pace in transition and increasing their advantage. When Quinn added another three, before Liam Pettigrew and Aidan Quinn's two-pointers their lead was more tha 20.
Heading into the fourth, the result was virtually beyond doubt as both sides made substitutions. Paul Freeman was a rare bright spark for Maree on a night they will want to forget. However, with Jarett Haines and Charlie Crowley receiving their Insuremyvan.ie Superleague Player of the Month and Coach of the Month awards respectively, from co-captains Stephen Commins and Eoin Rockall.
Up next, they face a Flexachem KCYMS side, who recorded an impressive 45-point win over UCD Marian at the weekend; at the Killorglin Community Centre next Saturday with tip-off at 7.15pm.
Scorers for University of Galway Maree : Jarett Haines 19, Zvonimir Cutuk 15, Eoin Rockall 6, Paul Freeman 5, Rodrigo Gómez 5, Matthew Sweeney 3, Stephen Commins 3, Malik Thiam 2, Ben Burke 2, Zach Light 2.
Scorers for Belfast Star: Maximillian Cooper 19, Conor Quinn 14, Max Richardson 13, Chrishon Briggs 13, Conor Johnston 11, Aidan Quinn 8, Liam Pettigrew 4, Jack Summersgill 2, Oisin Kerlin 2.
University of Galway Maree : Cathal Finn, Eoin Rockall, Rodrigo Gomez, Jarett Haines, Zvonimir Cutuk.Bench: Comhghall McCormack, Stephen Commins, Ben Burke, Zach Light, Matthew Sweeney, Malik Thiam, Paul Freeman.
Belfast Star: Conor Quinn, Aidan Quinn, Maximillian Cooper, Chrishon Briggs, Max Richardson. Bench: Jack Summersgill, Conor Johnston, Darragh Ferguson, Patrick McGaharan, Liam Pettigrew, Oisin Kerlin.
