Big win for Neptune over Sligo while Demons' loss in Belfast sees them back in relegation battle

A 43-point blast from the Energywise Ireland Neptune American Mike Hayes ensured his side dug out a 95-78 away win against Sligo All Stars.

A defeat for Neptune would have put them in a precarious position in their battle to stave off relegation but credit to the team, they found bottle for the battle.

The Blackpool side also saw the return of Roy Downey in their hour of need and after a solid opening quarter, they went in at the break commanding a six-point lead.

The game was still finally poised coming down the stretch as Neptune showed class to outscore their western rivals 28-16 to run out comfortable 17-point winners.

COMPETITIVE

The second Cork side with relegation problems, UCC Demons, produced a solid display away to Belfast Star before going down 99-92. This was a game that was competitive from tip off with Demons shading the opening quarter before Star moved up a gear and outscored them 28-14 to take a nine-point interval lead.

Credit to Demons, they battled back in style in the third quarter to outplay Star and take a three-point lead into the fourth period.

The game was still in the balance in the closing minutes but once again schoolboy turnovers cost Demons big time. They were duly punished by the league leaders.

Ballincollig welcomed back American Latrell Jossell for their away clash to Eanna and they produced a solid display at a difficult venue to run out 94-85 winners.

The opening quarter was all about the intensity that Ballincollig brought to their defence and with Latavious Mitchell dominating the post they raced into an 11-point lead.

Eanna are a tricky side to win against on their home court and had the better of the second quarter to outscore Ballincollig 24-22 to reduce the deficit to nine points at the break.

The third quarter was much the same as the second with neither team giving away much but Ballincollig edged it 23-22 to regain a ten point lead entering the fourth quarter.

Coming down the stretch the Ballincollig coach Ciaran O’Sullivan set his team up to close out the game and they did so in style to keep their title challenge firmly on track.

Gurranabraher Credit Union Brunell were also on the road to play Liffey Celtics and for the third time this season they lost to Liffey Celtics 81-71. Brunell were slow out of the traps and trailed by eight points after the opening quarter that has been the trend all season in this campaign.

The Cork side didn’t improve in the second quarter and, with the exception of Edel Thornton, struggled on the scoring front to trail by 13 points at the break 43-30.

There was little change to the trend of the game in the second half with Brunell struggling at both ends of the court and in another poor defensive display the northside club’s poor form continued.

Career Decisions UCC Glanmire were involved in a thriller at Waterford Wildcats but they were also on the wrong end of a 93-89 defeat. Indeed, Glanmire looked the dominant team after the opening three quarters and had a six- point lead entering the fourth period.

The Deise side found another gear coming down the stretch and with Alyssa Frecas and Sarah Hickey dominant in the closing minutes Wildcats dug out the win.