Hectic schedule catches up on Maree in second league outing

Maree 85

Neptune 66

MAREE’S Superleague side were forced to play two games at the weekend, with their scheduled game at home to Neptune on Saturday at 8pm followed by the refixed game at home to UCC Demons at 3pm the following day.

They got off to a winning start on Saturday with a crucial win over a Neptune side which slumped to the bottom of the table after a game which saw their co-captain, Roy Downey, ejected from the match in the first quarter after picking up two technical fouls in the space of five seconds.

The home side led 29-22 at end of the first quarter with Niels Bunschoten doing most damage with 14 points, but a massive second quarter from Neptune saw them outscore Maree 26-11 to lead 48-40 at half time.

However, the third quarter belonged to the home side, which they took 20-7. Their comeback was kickstarted with a 3 from Charlie Crowley, and with Bunschoten hitting 12 points – including two 3-pointers – Maree led 60-55 at the end of the third quarter, before seeing out the game with a 25-point haul in the final quarter.

Maree: C Crowley (3), S Sellers (15), E Rockall (12), N Bunschoten (32), P Freeman (11), C Harte, C Blaney, S Commins, L McInerney, J Burke (6), T Fabricuss, K Hansberry (6).

Maree 81

UCC Demons 90

Two games in the space 19 hours proved to be too much for Maree as they fell to a nine-point defeat to a second visiting Cork side on Sunday, which is likely to have ended their push for the top-6 play-offs.

They hit a staggering 15 3-pointers in the game, but an understandably leg-weary side trailed 30-21 at the end of the first quarter; and found themselves 54-41 down at half-time.

They tried to rally in the third quarter, but Demons managed to extend their lead to 70-53; and while Maree outscored their visitors 28-20 in the final quarter, thanks to five successive 3-pointers, the gap was too big to close as Demons held on for the win.

Maree: C Crowley, S Sellers (15), E Rockall (16), P Freeman (10), N Bunschoten (24), J Burke (2), C Harte, K Hansberry (14), C Blaney.

For more, read this week’s Galway City Tribune.

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