Star Of The Sea vented frustration over their cup semi-final reversal in a positive manner yesterday by dismantling Killester 113-80 to maintain their position on top of the league table.
Star now have the opportunity to quickly atone for their cup defeat by Notre Dame nine days ago as they face the same opponents next weekend in a fixture that should have a similar bearing on the title race as a league final.
If Star win next Sunday, they will have a commanding four point lead with just three rounds of matches remaining. But if they lose, then Notre Dame will not only go level on points at the top but they will win the league on countback if they remain unbeaten in their last three games.
However, it is clear from yesterday's performance that Star have shrugged off their cup experience and have emerged again as clear league favourites. One positive omen is the fact that yesterday's league victory was the first occasion that the Belfast side managed to win the game directly following a cup semi-final or final defeat.
Star's field goal shooting was outstanding against Killester and almost half of their points came from a remarkable total of 16 three-pointers. John Leahy scored five of them and Gareth McGuire got four.
Star led 55-42 at half-time and stretched that lead with relentless pressure in the second period.
On Saturday night, Notre Dame won by a much closer margin of just 88-84 in their league game against Neptune at the National Arena although the margin was not at all flattering. In fact, Notre Dame led by 10 points entering the last 30 seconds and were never in danger of losing from there on in spite of Neptune's late flurry.
In a close game, which in many respects mirrored the cup final duel between the two a week earlier, Neptune led 36-34 at half time and were ultimately victims of their own indiscipline as they incurred four technical fouls, including one on coach Mark Scannell early in the final quarter which helped Notre Dame take a seven point lead that proved decisive in the end.
Randall Mounts and Lennie McMillan were in fine form each scoring 26 points for Notre Dame while Augusto Duquesne scored only 12 for Neptune.
Two other Superleague games with a bearing on Top Six Championship places provided thrilling finales. St Vincent's won 87-85 away to Ballina with the help of two late free throws from top scorer Andy Meyer (36pts) and Dungannon's Al Boler also got the winning score from the free throw line in an 86-85 defeat of Marian.
Tralee won the Kerry derby beating Killarney 88-72 in spite of playing without Irish international John Teahan while also having their American Roscoe Patterson curtailed by foul trouble.
In the women's superleague, even though there are three full rounds of matches remaining, Wildcats need just one more win to add the title to their cup success after defeating Tralee 84-40 on Saturday.
