Maree have secured a play-off berth int heir first National League basketball season with a 100-91 win over Tolka Rovers.
In their second away win on the trot, Maree’s Liam Conroy was his side’s top-scorer with 25 points, while Sarunas Zvirblinskas hit 22.
Maree now wrap up regular season play against St Brendan's in Tralee next Saturday.
Tolka enjoyed the brighter start last weekend, quickly building a 10-point lead as Maree’s man-to-man defence was struggled.
Seven points in the paint from Ken Hansberry brought Maree back into the game. Then Conroy began to drive to the hoop and was good for 11 points, while Con Crowley hit seven, including a three. Tolka found Zvirblinaskas hard to handle and he added 10 more strong lay-ups, helping to level the game 52-52 at the break.
Maree switched to a 3-2 defence to counter Tolka’s three-point threat, and this move proved decisive. In addition they began to score more freely – their first five scores in the third were scored from different players, including another Crowley three. Gradually Maree established a lead and began to look comfortable at 75 – 68 going into the final quarter.
A big Danny Finn three settled Maree early. Nine more from Conroy and four from the ever-industrious David Hansberry kept the score-board moving. A Crowley point from the line saw the ton reached.
Maree: Darren Callanan (C ), Sarunas Zvirblinskas (22 ), Liam Conroy (25 ), David Hansberry (13 ), Eddie Forde, Kenneth Hansberry (16 ), Con Crowley (15 ), George Rahmani (inj ), Danny Finn (9 ).
