Tip-off time for Mayo Meteors and Merry Monk Ballina in new basketball season

The basketball season in Mayo is well underway at school and club levels, while the Ballina Braves Under 20 team have recorded a fine victory in the National League over Athlone and also produce as stunning performance in the opening round of the National Under 20 Cup by beating St. Vincent’s of Dublin in their home patch, writes John Melvin.

Now it's the turn of the seniors as Merry Monk Ballina and Mayo Meteors open their season in the Basketball Ireland Development League (BIDL) this weekend.

Merry Monk travel to Sligo tomorrow (Saturday) to take on Atlantic Eagles a 7 p.m. in the Ursuline College.

Mayo Meteors, meanwhile, will also be holding their first home game of the season this weekend, with Shannon Jets the visitors to Tourmakeady tomorrow evening for a 7 p.m. tip-off.

Meteors' normal home venue, the De La Salle Hall in Castlebar, is unavailable due to electrical issues with the lighting system in the hall.

The club will be without the services of Terry Kennedy, who has stepped away from the coaching position. The coaching duties will now be managed jointly by player-coach Daniel Nyland and former coach Anthony McHale.

Meteors will be looking to a lot of the younger players coming through this season, while Merry Monk Ballina will be expected to come home with a win in Sligo given the strength and experience within the panel.