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WIT Wildcats topple Ambassador UCC Glanmire

League leaders Glanmire must now regroup and prepare for next weekend’s National Cup final game against Courtyard Liffey Celtics

It was a busy weekend on the basketball circuit with clashes in the Women’s and Men’s Super Leagues

Sun Jan 22 2017 - 19:01

Maxol WIT Wildcats was the team that finally broke Ambassador UCC Glanmire's winning streak at the top of the Women's Super League on Saturday evening, as they overcame the league leaders in a thrilling game in Waterford.

Wildcats, who now have Jillian Hayes at the helm, were delighted with their dogged and determined performance that saw them pull back a win from the side who knocked them out of the Cup in a close game just before Christmas.

Glanmire will need to regroup this week as they prepare for the Hula Hoops National Cup final clash against Courtyard Liffey Celtics next Sunday, but for now, this victory is all Wildcats’ as they keep their semi-final hopes alive.

“We’re delighted,” said Hayes. “The girls were really, really upset after the Cup game as they had been in the lead for most of it, but Glanmire got a few huge shots at the end to win, so everyone wanted this game, everyone was ready for it.

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“We’ve been working towards this game for the past three weeks and it paid off in the end. It was anyone’s game in the last few minutes, so it was great to see Wildcats hanging in there and being able to close it out. Grit and determination won the game.”

Close game

Elsewhere, Courtyard Liffey Celtics had the better of DCU Mercy in a close game in Leixlip; Portlaoise Panthers had to settle for second best against Pyrobel Killester, while NUIG Mystics were celebrating following a hard fought win over Meteors.

It was a busy weekend of action in the Men’s Super League, with Pyrobel Killester, Garvey’s Tralee Warriors and DCU Saints all winning their respective games in the Men’s Super Series at the National Basketball Arena in Tallaght. Pyrobel Killester looked in control throughout their tie with Belfast Star, holding a comfortable 51-30 point lead at half time and driving on to a 71-56 point victory.

Tralee and SSE Airtricity Moycullen went head-to-head in the second game and though Tralee were without the services of Kieran Donaghy, an incredible display from Trae Pemberton saw them home to victory as he netted a whopping 41 points on the day. DCU Saints took the spoils against Commercial.ie Éanna in the last game, turning over their loss the last time the two sides met to win 80-55.

Easy victory

Sunday saw Griffith Swords Thunder easing to victory over Radisson Blu UL Eagles, with the ever-impressive Isaac Westbrooks guiding the win throughout. That was Eagles' second loss of the weekend having gone down to KUBS On Friday night.

KUBS, meanwhile, just didn’t have enough to close out and win against UCC Demons in the second game. The last time these two sides met, Demons just pipped KUBS, so it was set to be another close game and it certainly lived up to its billing, with the sides drawing level numerous times throughout the game. Demons showed that extra bit more experience though, to push out and win 72-66 in the end.

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