It is getting to the business end of the basketball season, with two of the four Galway clubs are already assured of their fate in relation to either the post-season play-offs, or the new season which tips-off in October; while two more have a fair idea of what lies in store.
Maree’s run in the Men’s Super League will come to an end on Sunday when they take on Killorglin in the Kingfisher Arena in the University of Galway. An 18-point deduction for falsifying player documents – reduced from an initial punishment of 24 points – was too big a burden to overcome and they will finish bottom of the table, which results in relegation.
Things are less clear in the Women’s Super League. University of Galway Mystics go into a weekend double-header still looking for a first win of the season and cast well adrift at the foot of the table.
However, unlike the Men’s Super League, there is every chance they will be spared the drop if the team that secures the promotion spot from Division One opts not to exercise their right to promotion.
It won’t be the first time the Students have been spared the drop because the Division one champions didn’t fancy the step-up – they avoided a play-off last season for that very reason, with Swords Thunder declining the opportunity for a shot at promotion.
One team most definitely in the post-season play-offs is Titans, with the city club sitting second in the South Conference of men’s Division One with two games left to play, the first of which is tonight (Thursday) at home to a Limerick Sport Eagles on an 8-12 record, followed by a Saturday night trip to Waterford (3-18).
They need to win just one of those game to guarantee a second-place finish in the South Conference, and a quarter-final with the side that finishes third in the North Conference, which is guaranteed to be a Tolka Rovers side they played just a fortnight ago, losing 104-103 after overtime.
Maigh Cuilinn are almost certain to join them in the play-offs with a fourth-place finish in the South Conference – Tipp Talons need to beat them by 11 points in the Kingfisher Arena on Saturday (7.30pm), and then beat St Paul’s Killarney at home ton Sunday, to overtake the Galway side for that final play-of spot.
Pictured: Moycullen guard Antonio Molina, who hit seven points, and had six assists and three rebounds in the clash with conference leaders Portlaoise Panthers at the weekend.
The post Regular season draws to a close this weekend appeared first on Connacht Tribune – Galway City Tribune.
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