Killester and Liffey Celtics tied in 2nd as Brunell tops MissQuote.ie Super League

Pyrobel Killester ensured they remain very much in the shake-up for this season’s MissQuote.ie Super League crown after they recorded a convincing 81-59 victory away to Catalyst Fr.Mathews on Saturday evening.

American Keowa Walters notched up 26 points and 11 rebounds, while Claire Melia also made her presence felt for the Dubliners with 17 points and 15 rebounds as they remained level with FloMAX Liffey Celtics in second place, albeit having played a game more.

“We are happy with the performance” said Killester head coach, Mark Grennell after Saturday’s win.

“It can be tricky after the break, not being 100 per cent sure what we might look like, but, credit to the girls, they came in ready and got us off to a great start.

“Fr. Mathews have been impressive of late and it was a game we knew we had to be really good in, and we were. Now we’ll focus on next week’s semi-final,” he said with a smile.

FloMAX Liffey Celtics broke the century mark for the first time this season as they chalked up a comprehensive 105-58 win over Portlaoise Panthers, who only recently parted ways with head coach Niall Berry.

FloMAX Liffey Celtics hitting the 💯 point mark against Portlaoise Panthers 🟢#BITV | #BISL pic.twitter.com/2eyrzssgyv

— Basketball Ireland (@BballIrl) December 30, 2023

Alexandra Navarette was lethal on the inside, amassing 34 points and 12 rebounds in Leixlip on Saturday, while Tianna Ayulo, Kate O’Flaherty and Rachel Huijsdens also hit double figures against a Portlaoise side for whom Alyssa Velles and Jessica Fressle accounted for 43 points.

Current MissQuote.ie Super League leaders Gurranabraher Credit Union Brunell remain three points clear at the summit after they comfortably dealt with the challenge of University of Galway Mystics, winning 96-61 at the Kingfisher Sports Arena.

Kyaja Victoria Williams was in imperious form as she carded a game-high 26 points and 18 rebounds, while Jayla Nacole Johnson also delivered for the leaders with 25 points and 15 rebounds.

Jade Compton hit a phenomenal 43 points as SETU Waterford Wildcats dug out an 89-79 victory over Trinity Meteors in Coláiste Íosagáin.

She, along with Sarah Hickey and Shanai’jah Davison, was immense under the boards with the three combining for 49 rebounds, as the visitors managed to pull clear of a dogged Trinity outfit over the final quarter.

Despite benefitting from a huge 36-point haul by Trinity Oliver, Ulster University were undone 79-67 in their clash with DCU Mercy at Jordanstown Sports Village.

Brynley Fitzgerald top-scored for the winners with 25 points, while Hannah Thornton and Ciara Byrne accounted for a further 41 between them.

In the MissQuote.ie Division One, Templeogue and ISecure Swords Thunder remain deadlocked at the top of the North Conference after they both scored wins on the road, the former beating Moy Tolka Rovers 73-47, while Swords saw off Marble City Hawks 70-64. South Conference leaders, St Paul’s Killarney survived a real scare to win out 66-63 in their clash with Oblate Dynamos in Inchicore. Abbey Seals Dublin Lions earned a timely boost ahead of their InsureMyHouse.ie Division One National Cup semi-final against McEvoy’s Cavan Eagles next Saturday by recording a 93-74 victory over Limerick Sport Huskies in Coláiste Bríde.

Results

MissQuote.ie Super League

Saturday December 30

University of Galway Mystics 61 - 96 Gurranabraher Credit Union Brunell

Catalyst Fr. Mathews 59 - 81 Pyrobel Killester

Ulster University 67 - 79 DCU Mercy

Trinity Meteors 79 - 89 SETU Waterford Wildcats

FloMAX Liffey Celtics 105 - 58 Portlaoise Panthers

MissQuote.ie Division One

Saturday December 30

Oblate Dynamos 63 - 66 St Paul’s Killarney

Moy Tolka Rovers 47 - 73 Templeogue