Ballincollig power past Killorglin to stay on track for Super League playoff push
Josh Steel, Ballincollig, attacks KCYMS in the Domino's Men's Superleague clash at MTU Arena. Picture: Larry Cummins
A superb fourth quarter from Ballincollig ensured they remain on track to finish top of the table in the Domino’s Men’s Super League after easily disposing of Killorglin at the MTU Arena on Saturday.
Although playing well short of their best, the MVP performance given by Dylan Corkery was right from the top drawer. Playing man-to-man defence, Corkery completely shut down the threat of Jordan Blount, who only finished with 12 points. Coming down the stretch, he also nailed consecutive three-pointers that helped put this game to bed.
To be fair Ballincollig only played in snatches but when they did turn on the style, they looked a formidable unit. Coach Ciaran O’Sullivan will be happy with his Irish players in this game as Adrian O’Sullivan and Keelan Cairns battled like trojans when their team needed inspiration.
Marquez Ellis only took 14 seconds to drain the opening brace of free throws for the visitors only for the Ballincollig ace American Latavious Mitchell to tie the game.
In the opening exchanges, the game was scrappy with both sides making unforced errors but when Adrian O’Sullivan stepped outside the paint in the fourth minute, his shot gave Ballincollig a 10-9 lead.
Credit to Killorglin they responded immediately with a similar shot from Ellis and a Blount floater gave the Kerry side a 14-10 lead in the seventh minute.
The introduction of Alberto Rodriguez was positive for the home side with an instant lay-up that tied the game and consecutive baskets surged Ballincollig into a four-point lead entering the ninth minute.
Rodriguez then drained a three-pointer and three free throws and suddenly the home team looked in ascendancy at the end of the quarter when they commanded a 26-19 lead.
Adrian O’Sullivan was on hand to nail a buzzer-beater in the opening possession and when he followed up with a three-pointer, the lead increased to 11 points in the 12th minute.
Killorglin were now on the ropes and when Latrell Jossell followed up with the Ballincollig lead was extended to 14 points with the visitors immediately calling a time out.
The game went scrappy for a three-minute period with both teams struggling to find baskets as the home team had lost the momentum they showed in the opening minutes.
Midway through the quarter, Killorglin had battled back to reduce the deficit to six, 38-32, as Ballincollig rightfully called a time-out in a bid to steady the ship.
It got tougher for Ballincollig with two minutes remaining to the interval when the deficit was further reduced to 40-38 before Mitchell produced a floater.
When Ballincollig needed inspiration, Adrian O’Sullivan came up trumps with consecutive baskets, but Blount produced a buzzer-beater that ensured Killorglin would only trail by three points at the break: 46-43.
Looking at the half-time stats Ballincollig made 11/17 (65%) and outside the arc it showed 5/16, a 31% average. Killorglin were 9/19 inside the paint (47%) and outside the arc they were 6/14 (43%).
The Killorglin American Eche Okeke picked up his fourth foul on the restart and consecutive three-pointers from Josh Steel and Dylan Corkery eased the Ballincollig nerves as they regained an 11-point lead.
Not for the first time in this game did Ballincollig hit a flat period in the scoring department but Cairns eased the pressure with a couple of free throws that gave them an eight-point lead.
In fairness, Killorglin responded and five unanswered points from Okeke reduced the deficit to three points entering the closing minute.
The home side responded with consecutive baskets. Entering the fourth quarter, Ballincollig had a seven-point lead, 72-65, with the game still very much in the melting pot.
When the going got tough, the tough got going. Ballincollig ran riot coming down the stretch to outscore their opponents 35-15 as the elusive league and cup double remains firmly on their radar.
L Mitchell 28, J Steel 22, A O’Sullivan 17, D Corkery 12.
E Okeke 20, M Ellis 20, R Ghanem 16, J Blount 12.
A O’Sullivan, J Steel, L Jossell, D O’Herlihy, A Rodriguez, C O’Sullivan, R O’Sullivan, C Blount, L O’Sullivan, D Corkery, L Mitchell, K Cairns.
E Evans, E Bolger, A Fitzgerald, R Graham, R Ghanem, D Wall, P Lanipekun, E Grudov, J Echezonachukwu, J Blount, L Croke, C Buckley, M Letcher-Ellis.
M Landos (Portlaoise), L Aherne (Limerick), S O’Shaughnessy (Tipperary).
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