TRALEE basketball club ensured that their margin of victory in the 1995-'96 Budweiser Superleague was a clear two points by defeating their Kerry rivals St Paul's, Killarney 105-96 in front of a sell out home crowd on Saturday evening.

The best supported team in the country had been assured of the title on countback after their last remaining pursuers, Star of the Sea, lost their chance 10 days earlier. However, it was still extremely important to Tralee that they won with some style on their home court having suffered an uncharacteristic defeat only seven days earlier to Delta.

Tralee led narrowly at halftime, 46-44, and helped by two important three pointers in the second half from Kieran O'Sullivan and Vincent Murphy, they pulled away for a nine point victory.

The top scorer in the game was Ricardo Leonard on 43 points, but Corry Jackson of St Paul's kept the Killarney side in the game with an outstanding contribution of 41.

Leonard's brilliant form since Christmas was arguably the determining factor in Tralee's emergence from third favourites for the title entering the New Year to the position of eventual champions. His season, though, could end on a disappointing note as he faces the possibility of disciplinary action this week after being reported to the IBA for strong verbal abuse to a referee following the defeat by Delta a week ago.

The runners up spot in the league was claimed by St Vincent's, who beat their rivals for that distinction, Star of the Sea, 99-83 in Belfast.

Delta's fine end of season run of form ended with a crushing 104-76 defeat of Killester. The result had no bearing on the top four positions, but it clinched a creditable fifth place for the Dublin club and consigned last year's champions, Neptune, who were beaten 110-89 by North Mon, to the bottom half of the table.