Neptune hold on for key Super League win over Tralee Warriors as Tamryik Fields shines
Energywise Ireland Neptune's Tamyrik Fields has his eyes on the prize as he goes for a basket. Picture: Howard Crowdy
A 31-point contribution from American Tamryik Fields helped Energywise Ireland Neptune defeat Tralee Warriors in a Men’s Super League clash at the Neptune Stadium.
Fields was outstanding in the offence court with Cian Heaphy’s defensive display proving crucial in this important win for the Blackpool side as they gear up for a playoff berth.
They were without starting point guards Roy Downey and Conor O’Sullivan but took an early lead with a Fields basket and a Chance Hunter three-pointer. Fields looked up for battle and pounced for consecutive baskets, but it was 9-9 midway through the quarter.
Despite some poor shooting the home side deservedly commanded a 26-19 lead entering the second quarter.
Hunter had a hot hand on the restart shooting consecutive threes which saw his side command a 14-point lead in the 12th minute. The Warriors improved following a time-out but with Fields continuing to score at will the gap was still 10 four minutes before the interval.
It was hard to work out how the Warriors were actually setting up in the offence court as all they were doing was shooting inaccurately beyond the arc. Neptune were the better side at that stage and looked comfortable at the break a nine-point cushion, 50-41.
Warriors attempted 21 shots outside the arc but only made a paltry four that gave them a 19% average.
On the restart, Greg Adon did nail a three for the visitors as they looked to have increased the intensity when playing zone defence. The lead was reduced to three points two minutes later and suddenly it was game on.
Amazingly the Warriors resorted to some sloppy passing and a crazy shooting phase that saw Neptune surge into a 13-point lead with three minutes remaining in this period.
Ahead 73-65 Neptune still looked in a good position coming down the stretch but the Warriors then led for the first time, 92-90, with 1.38 remaining.
It was then left to Fields as he nailed a monstrous three-pointer that helped his side win at the death.
T Fields 31, C Hunter 21, J Sola 20, C Heaphy 9.
M Stephens 23, R Leonard 16, G Adon 14, R Buivydas11.
D O’Sullivan, C Leahy, C O’Sullivan, T Fields, D Aluko, A Heaphy, D O’Rourke, N Sabata, C Heaphy, J Sola, C Hunter.
M Stephens, B Mahan, Z Kaletka, J Fernane, R Leonard, J Osayanrthion, K Crowe, R Buivydas, D Jokubaitis, G Adon, S Bowler, C Sullivan.
Jamie Dooley (Portlaoise), Peter James Coughlan (Cork), Stephen O’Shaughnessy (Tipperary).
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