Cork Basketball: Neptune cruise to big win over Tralee Warriors
Adon Gregorio, Neptune, shoots from Irshaad Hunte and Eoin Quigley, Tralee Warriors. Picture: Jim Coughlan.
A stroll in the park for Energywise Ireland Neptune as they secured a comfortable second win of the season with a comfortable win over a disappointing Tralee Warriors side at the Neptune Stadium on Saturday.
Credit to the home team in securing the all-important win, but their opponents must have had the Christmas blues as they were incapable of defending their own basket. On the other side of the coin, this was a much-improved performance from a Neptune side desperately needing a win in their fight to stave off a relegation battle.
Gregorio Adon was given the freedom of the court to open the Neptune account and that was followed by consecutive baskets with the home side racing into a six-point lead in the second minute.
The opening four minutes were played at a ferocious pace with both sides running the ball at every given opportunity.
Eli Lenihan nailed a long three-pointer in the sixth minute that gave his side a six-point lead with the new Neptune American signing Samuel Henderson showing some deft touches.
The Warriors were using strange rotations and with Neptune rookie Dylan O’Rourke finishing with a superb drive to the hoop, they deservedly commanded a 32-21 lead entering the second quarter. The Neptune onslaught continued as the Warriors defence was in tatters and they needed the time out called in the 13th minute as they looked a team totally disorganised at both ends of the court.
The one player that was looking likely to keep the Warriors within striking distance was American Jordan Perkins, as some of their other shooting options bordered on the ridiculous. The home side, without excelling, picked off their baskets with relative ease but after surging into an 18-point lead the visitors responded with three consecutive baskets that reduced the gap to 44-32 with 2.33 remaining to the interval.
The closing minutes were scrappy, but Neptune will be pleased with their opening 20 minutes as they had a 13-point lead at the break: 51-38. There is little doubt the Tralee stats were X-rated as they only made nine shots of the 29 attempted inside the paint 31% and 5/14 outside the arc (36%).
The home side made 20/29 inside the paint (69%) and only attempted nine shots outside the arc making two that gave them a 22% average.
The second half was the equivalent of a scrimmage with Neptune scoring with ease and, after dominating the third quarter, they took a 21-point cushion into the fourth.
Coming down the stretch, Neptune could afford to use many of their fringe players as this Kerry side simply were not up for battle with the points going to a much-improved Neptune side who will hope to build on this win.
T A Gregorio 30, M Hayes 23, S Henderson 14, E Nelson 14.
J Perkins 30, D Jobubaitis 15, I Hunte 14.
D O’Rourke, K O’Donoghue, S Henderson, E Lenihan, M Hayes, S Noonan, E Nelson, A Heaphy, N Sabata, A Gregorio, P Osagie.
I Hunte, J Perkins, O Michalczuk, S Bowler, J Fernane, D Bowler, K Crowe, P Fleming, D Jokubaitis, C Sullivan, E Quigley.
Jamie Dooley (Portlaoise), Peter James Coughlan (Cork), Stephen O’Shaughnessy (Tipperary).
App?
