Ballincollig defeated Killester 79-71 to lift the Domino’s Men’s Super League and compete the double in the process, having won the Domino’s MSL National Cup in January. It is the Cork clubs second Super League title in four years, while for Killester it is Domino’s Men’s Super League final heartache for the third year in row. As the teams sized each other up in the opening quarter, a dunk from Robert Brasswell IV made it 13-8 to Killester midway through. Latrell Jossell (185-G, college: N.Texas), who was MVP in the Domino’s MSL National Cup final, landed a three to put Ballincollig in front, 16-13, with three minutes to go in the first quarter, but it would be level pegging at 17-17 at the end of it. Another Jossell three had it level at 20 apiece with two minutes gone in the second quarter. Three minutes later an Adrian O’Sullivan layup had Ballincollig ahead by five points, 29-24. A big dunk from Latavious Mitchell (203-F, college: FMU) with two minutes to go made it an eight point game, 36-28. Josh Steel (194-G-1997, college: Duquesne) pushed it to a nine point lead with his basket, Ballincollig were 39-30 ahead at half-time. Adrian O'Sullivan (177-G-1993) took a bang to the face in the closing stages of the second quarter, but didn’t show any ill effects when downing a layup for the first score of the third quarter. The Ireland international was dictating the tempo and would finish with 17 points and seven rebounds on his way to earning the MVP. Paul Dick (193-G-1991, college: FPU) landed a deep three in the fourth minute of the third quarter to trail 46-40, only for Keelan Cairns to unload with a corner three straight after. Ballincollig stretched their advantage to 15 after a Jossell layup and a Steel three, to lead 62-47 with a little over a minute to go. Down the stretch Adrian O’Sullivan landed a long three with 16 seconds remaining, however Josh Wilson (190-PG, college: Idaho Coll.) converted two late free throws to leave it at 65-53. A corner three from Andrew McGeever (188-SG) gave Killester the start they needed in the fourth quarter, but it was cancelled out by Dylan Corkery (189-G-1998)’s effort. Killester kept plugging away, a big block by Baptiste Chazelas on Jossell and swift counter ended with a Dick layup and Jonathan Grennell’s side had cut the deficit to six, 68-62. A Dick free throw followed shortly after, but Ballincollig didn’t panic, with layups from Jossell and Corkery to make it 72-63 with six minutes to go. Momemtum was with Ciaran O’Sullivan’s side and when Jossell landed his third three of the contest with 2’23” to go it was 79-69 and they safely negotiated the final stages to seal the title. Speaking after the game, player/coach Ciaran O’Sullivan was asked about completing the double and he said: “Yeah extraordinary, it’s not something you set out to do. If in pre-season someone told you it would end in this after 29 games, I mean what a run! We lost our first two games and it didn’t look likely and we had a poor enough season last season, knocked out in both quarter-finals Cup and League. So to bounce back with a similar group of players, but I just have to say the guys we’ve brought in Latrell Jossell, the Cup final performance here and the three of them Josh Steel and Latavious Mitchell and particularly Adrian O''Sullivan had a brilliant game today – total team effort. It’s tough, it’s a long season, 29 games, different contributions from different guys throughout the year. They’re rare (doubles), I am sure if you look at the roll of honour it hasn’t happened all too often, so delighted to be among those teams who have achieved it.”
Courtesy of: ireland.basketball

Ballincollig lifted the Domino's Men's Super League Pat Duffy National Cup for the first time in the club's history, producing one of the most devastating shooting performances ever seen at the National Basketball Arena to rout Garvey's Tralee Warriors on Saturday. American point guard Latrell Jossell put on a clinic from beyond the arc, draining eight three-pointers en route to 31 points and a deserved MVP award. The Cork club made an astonishing 20 three-pointers across the four quarters in what was arguably the finest perimeter shooting display in the competition's history. Ballincollig set the tone with a blistering opening quarter, burying 10 triples in the first eight minutes to race into a 34-20 lead. Jossell alone hit six of those in the opening seven minutes, leaving the Warriors reeling before the game had even found its rhythm. The barrage continued in the second period. By the 12th minute, Ballincollig had connected on 13 of 18 attempts from deep and surged to a 44-22 advantage. Player-coach Ciaran O'Sullivan (193-SF-1990) broke a brief scoring drought with a stunning three of his own, and the Cork side took a commanding 61-40 lead into halftime. The first-half numbers were staggering: 16-of-25 from three-point range (64%). Tralee fought valiantly in the second half, with the Warriors cutting into the deficit at various points, but every time they threatened a revival, Ballincollig had an answer. Josh Steel (194-G-1997, college: Duquesne) was immense defensively, nullifying the threat of Jordan Perkins (187-G-1998, college: Longwood, agency: YoungGroup Unlimited) (14 points in 30 minutes), while Latavious Mitchell (203-F, college: FMU)'s power inside provided a secondary weapon that Tralee could not ignore. Ballincollig's supporting cast was outstanding: Mitchell finished with 20 points, Steel added 19 and Keelan Cairns (209-C/F-1992, college: Pennsylvania) chipped in with 12. For the Warriors, Hunte led with 22 points, while Perkins and Aaron Fleming (183-PG-2001) each contributed 14 in the defeat. The victory marked a historic milestone for the Cork club, who would go on to complete the domestic double by beating Killester 79-71 in the Domino's Men's Super League playoff final in April — with Jossell and Adrian O'Sullivan (named league final MVP with 17 points and seven rebounds) once again leading the charge.