Basketball News: Ballina and, in particular, their team captain Ronan McGarrity, who produced an inspirational, 20-point display, ensured the Mayo club remain top of the northern conference this morning.

After slipping up at the national arena on Friday night, losing 89-81, to a Ruben Statum-inspired Shamrock Rovers Hoops, Ballina held their nerve the following evening when they proved too powerful with home court advantage for St Vincent's.

Patrick Pope and Evan Pellerin contributed handsomely to the scoreboard in both games, but it was local hero McGarrity, with football temporarily on the back burner, who asked the most pertinent questions of the visitors' defence.

Another regular favourite, Deora Marsh, also came in to help the cause with a fourth-quarter scoring blitz.

Despite Killester being only four points adrift, and with two games in hand, Ballina now look primed to enter the play-offs as leading contenders from the northern conference.

UCD hindered their chances of further involvement in the end-of-season activity when they were comprehensively beaten by Star of the Sea, 106-86, who were led by a 40-point display from Nate Connolly.

The southern conference appears more clear-cut as the UCC Demons reaffirmed their superiority in a repeat of the Cup final performance by overcoming second-placed Limerick Lions 94-79.

The other Cork outfit, Neptune, remain rooted to the bottom of the table but they still managed to scupper a late run for the play-offs from the Tralee Tigers with the narrowest of winning margins, 88-87.

The Tigers remain in fourth spot, six points adrift of the Killarney Lakers with a single game in hand.