Double blow for Killester

BASKETBALL:Round nine of the Superleague marks the last action in 2006. There is no new year cheer either as Basketball Ireland cancelled the All Star game, which was tentatively pencilled in for January 1st, due to number of factors - namely, clubs were hesitant to release key players for a largely irrelevant event.

The Killester men's team have suffered a similar fate to their woman as foreign import Josh Hines follows Sue Altman out of the club mid-season; he is returning to America for personal reasons.

Hines will feature in tomorrow's game against Shamrock Rovers before former Belfast Star player Bryce Burch takes his place on the roster. The 26-year-old Burch has been playing in Australia for the previous three seasons.

"Both sides will obviously be hoping to get back to winning ways after the cup losses last weekend but I feel that we have practiced well and home advantage might see us through" said coach Mark Keenan who is without the injured John Quigley.

"We played well below our best in Killarney but we still were in it right up to the end of the last quarter. We missed so many simple lay-ups it was incredible. Hopefully we can get it right on Saturday in front of our own fans," added Keenan.

Star have a very important few days as they entertain Ballina tomorrow before meeting the Hoops in the final game of the year on Wednesday. These matches will clarify the Ulster clubs aspirations of making the play-offs. The performance of the north conference player of the month for November, Ramell Ross, is crucial.

UCD Marian play their second home game in three days as they entertain St Vincent's, who are hoping the ongoing saga of Jermaine Turner's supposed return will be sorted out. Basically, Turner, like most foreign players, would prefer an offer from somewhere more glamorous than the Irish domestic league.

Elsewhere, the UCC Demons host Neptune at the Mardyke Arena in tonight's Cork derby, while the Limerick Lions welcome the Tralee Tigers to the university campus on Sunday.

FIXTURES: Friday: Men's Superleague:UCC Demons v Neptune, Mardyke Arena, 8.15. Saturday: Men's Superleague: Belfast Star v Ballina, Jordanstown, 7.15 UCD Marian v St Vincent's, UCD Sports Centre, 7.0 Killester v Shamrock Rovers Hoops, IWA, 7.0. Woman's Superleague: Killester v DCU Mercy, IWA, 6.0 Wildcats v Meteors, Mercy Gym, 7.30. Sunday: Men's Superleague: Limerick Lions v Tralee Tigers, University of Limerick, 3.30.