Ballincollig move into Super League playoffs with victory over rivals Neptune
Ballincollig's Andre Nation finds the hoop against Neptune, during their Men's Super League clash at Neptune Stadium. Picture: David Keane.
BALLINCOLLIG beat Neptune in the final game of the InsureMyVan.ie Men’s Super League regular season in front of a small attendance for a local derby at the Neptune Stadium on Friday night.
The Village had plenty to play for on the night as the win keeps them in the mix for the Southern Conference, if Eanna are beaten over the weekend. However, for the home side to say this campaign has been a season to forget is an understatement as they were one of the title favourites.
Ballincollig, who lifted the trophy last season, are at home in the playoff quarter-finals next Saturday afternoon at MTU.
Derek Murphy opened the scoring for Neptune with two slam dunks in the opening three minutes of play, however, a pair of foul shots and a power move to the basket by Ballincollig’s Shawndale Jones had the game level 4-4. The Village then went on a six-point run with baskets by Andre Nation and Jones to lead 13-7.
Both sides then exchanged baskets, however, Jones proved he had the hot hand with a personal total of 11 points which saw his side up 20-14.
Ballincollig increased their lead to 26-17 with a slam dunk from Nation and a short jumper by Adrain O’Sullivan to force Neptune’s coach Paul Kelleher into an instant timeout in the second quarter. The hosts responded with a basket by Che Yasin and a shot beyond the arc from Conor O’Sullivan to reduce the deficit to four.
The game was level 28-28 midway through the second period when Nil Sabata made his presence felt inside the paint by adding two buckets. The lead exchanged hands a couple of times but baskets from Jones gave Collig a 42-36 at the half.
They increased their advantage to 10 with baskets from Nation and Jones, until a big three-pointer followed by a shot from the elbow by O’Sullivan and a monstrous three from Yasin tied it 48-48 midway through the third.
Ballincollig then went on a 17-point run with baskets from Jones, Nation and Dylan Corkery to power 65-48 ahead entering the final period. To be honest, Neptune lost all their composure on both sides of the floor. They tried to live outside the arc with very little success and then got caught in transition by the Village as they ran in layups.
However, a pair of foul shots and a short jumper by O’Sullivan and then a huge three by Yasin reduced the deficit for Neptune to 76-67 with 4.58 remaining in the game.
Neptune made a late rally down the stretch but the Village were always able to score to see out the game.
Che Yasin 27, Conor O’Sullivan 22, Nil Sabata 20.
Shawndale Jones 26, Andre Nation 23, Dylan Corkery 14.
Che Yasin, Kelvin O’Donoghue, Derek Murphy, Caleb Leahy, Roy Downey, Conor O’Sullivan, Adam Heaphy, Nil Sabata, Dylan O’Rourke, Osagie Pharrell.
Nikola Rosa, Adrian O’Sullivan, Andre Nation, Diego O'Herlihy, Sean McManus, Ciaran O’Sullivan, Ronan O’Sullivan, Shawndale Jones, Luke O’Sullivan, Dylan Corkery, Keelan Cairns.
Caitriona White (Dublin), Arhands Immers (Cavan), Jacek Malysko (Portlaoise).
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