Basketball wrap: Griffith College Éanna win Sligo saga to get Men's Super League title defence back on track

Defending Men’s Super League champions Griffith College Éanna were taken to double-overtime before finally managing to pip EJ Sligo All-Stars 100-99 in an edge-of-the-seat encounter in Coláiste Éanna on Saturday night.

Darren McGovern’s side had to fight their way back from 10 points down early in the fourth, Mark Reynolds holding his nerve from the free-throw line to tie the game up and force added time.

Tyland Crawford, on his debut for the Dublin side, put up a combined 13 points with Sean Jenkins in overtime, taking their game total to 51, while Joshua Wilson carded 11 rebounds and nine assists to help see Éanna scrape over the line against their Sligo rivals, who had five players in double figures, including Jonathan Brown (25) and Thomas Child (22).

The victory marked a return to winning ways in the league for Éanna, after successive reversals at the hands of Energywise Ireland Neptune and Killester saw them lose ground on table toppers, Garvey’s Tralee Warriors, who remained six points clear at the summit following their facile 107-75 win over Maree in Tralee Sports Complex that extended their record to 7-0.

The Kerry side took all four quarters as Brandon Mahan, Rapolas Buivydas and Daniel Jokubaitis put up a total of 57 points, while Cian Sullivan mopped up 10 rebounds against a Maree outfit for whom Joe-Junior Mvuezolo and Jarett Haines each hit 20.

Irish Guide Dogs Ballincollig @MTU mounted a huge fourth-quarter comeback to dig out an 84-79 victory over Flexachem KCYMS in the early Saturday evening Men’s Super League fixture in MTU Arena.

The homeside appeared to be on course for a third straight defeat as they found themselves nine-points adrift of their opponents heading into the closing seven minutes of action.

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