Ballina bounce back

Basketball: The value of big-game experience can never be overstated. Ballina proved this adage to be correct as they recovered from defeat to Killester on Saturday night to overcome St Vincent's yesterday. In doing so they keep the northern conference very interesting coming into National Cup week.

Laurence Young stuck it to Seán McHale's team on Saturday when he shot 33 points against the club that released him over Christmas. Crucially, he out-scored his replacement Elijah Warren by nine points and he also had the final say in affairs with an audacious slam dunk at the death to ensure the five-point victory. Kieran O'Brien also showed well for Killester with 10 points and 10 rebounds as they stay top of the pile.

Ballina picked themselves up less than 24 hours later to out-class what was the form team, St Vincent's. Warren posted 46 points, but it was Liam McHale, who finished with 31 points, who must take the plaudits.

McHale's 19 out of 20 return from the free-throw line helped ensure the win.

McHale surely realised that this was his weekend to shine as a void was evident in the Ballina line-up due to the absence of the man who has stepped into the former Mayo midfielder's shoes in so many respects over the last 18 months. Ronan McGarrity is with the All Stars in Hong Kong.

UCD also kept their hat in the ring with two victories over the weekend against Neptune and Shamrock Rovers Hoops.

The table positions are the same as on Friday, but with eight points separating the top four there is no margin for error in the season's run in.

Down south, the Tralee Tigers welcomed Micheal Quirke back for the trip to the most northern venue. The reigning champions overcame an injury-ravaged Star of the Sea 114 to 86 with Quirke shooting a tidy 23-points.

Elsewhere, Limerick beat the UCC Demons and Waterford turned over the Killarney Lakers, with the league's top scorer Jamal Johnson contributing 37 points.