St Vincent's, Waterford and Star of the Sea all travel to Cork this morning to take part in the semi-finals of the National Basketball Championship after winning their quarter-final matches last night. In the closest of the three matches Waterford trailed for most of the game against Limerick before producing a typically strong finish to win 83-80 on their home court.
Waterford only took the lead in the game seven minutes from the end when a technical foul on Limerick coach Tommy Hehir sent Eric Blair to the free-throw line and the big American made three of his four efforts count. St Vincent's had an easy 80-51 victory over Blue Demons in Gurranabraher, while league champions Star of the Sea were comfortable winners at home to Neptune, 82-59.
Blue Demons 51 (D Simmonds 15, D Wingfield 14, K O'Leary 10), St Vincent's 80 (S McGuirk 25, D Donnelly 10, A Meyers 9, C Doyal 9)
Waterford 83 (E Blair 30, R Patterson 17, D Kavanagh 13), Limerick 80 (C Williams 39, J Galvin 17, R Scott 12)
Star of the Sea 82 (J Leahy 27, A Fulcan 15, D Moir 12), Neptune 59 (S Wilson 19, R Leonard 18, G Fitzgerald 7)
Boxing: THE Middle East is now in the hunt to stage the Lennox Lewis-Evander Holyfield heavyweight boxing unification rematch. Lewis's promoter Panos Eliades has had an approach from Qatar, which could top the $10 million bid from the new Mandalay Bay Hotel in Las Vegas. Ibrox Park and Cardiff's new Millennium Stadium are also also anxious to host the fight.
Athletics: Olympic champion Michael Johnson cruised to victory in the 200 metres event in the Engen Grand Prix series in Cape Town last night, when a capricious wind made it a difficult night for sprinters. Johnson, who clocked 20.41 seconds, said: "My style into the turn was a great improvement on last week and I'm quite happy with my time, despite the wind."
Cricket: Team captain Steve Waugh led an Australian fightback against West Indies with a superb 87 not out in the third test at Bridgetown, Barbados yesterday. Australia were reeling at 36 for three after an incisive newball burst from Courtney Walsh and Curtly Ambrose but Waugh inspired a recovery that lifted his side to 195 for four at tea on the first day.
