Scott’s Lakers 63
Limerick Celtics 75
Report: Enda Walshe
It took a virtuoso performance from Ariyon Williams for the Limerick Celtics to help maintain his side’s incredible 100 per cent record in the Men’s Basketball League.
The diminutive guard poured in 40 points and each one of them was needed as Scott’s Lakers put up a huge battle in this Valentine’s night clash.
The all-conquering Treaty Men have swept all before them, averaging 97 points per game and a 24-point winning margin.
Killarney coach Manuel Suarez will only have been disappointed by the result as it would be hard to find a fault with the effort and performance.
They succeeded in holding the free scoring Celtics to just 34 points in the opening half and by game’s end they had clocked up their lowest total of the season. Defensively, they held the treble scoring threat of Finn Hughes, Abdul Wurie and Chima Obikwelu to just 21 points but they just found Williams just too hot to handle.
They did so without the influential Eoin Carroll, Jack O’Sullivan and John Hughes who were unavailable due to university basketball in Limerick earlier in the day. But in their absence the likes of Darragh O’Callaghan, Jamie O’Sullivan and Oisin Spring really stood up to the plate, contributing to the scoreboard and defending ferociously.
Darragh O’Callaghan’s commitment all season was rewarded with a starting berth alongside Mark Sheehan who cut short his involvement in Limerick to line out. Alongside Mikah Blackwell, Darnell Snyers and Abdul Oladipupo, they set to their task early with the Celtics relying on the accuracy of Eoghan Donaghy and Ariyon Williams from outside.
Sheehan and Blackwell got the Lakers up and running but had to be vigilant to limit the threat of Abdul Wurie and Chima Obikwelu. That duo started well but strong defence in the paint gave the home side energy, something Darnell Snyers and Blackwell tapped into to grab the lead at 13-12.
Oisin Spring stretched it to three with a breakaway basket but Williams and Donaghy finished the quarter as they started it to give their side a slender 16-15 lead.
Blackwell and Sheehan answered Williams’ free throws to again take the lead but a Wurie scoring burst gave his side the advantage.
Cian Gleeson and Martin Frawley climbed off the Celtics bench to both hit threes and open up an eight-point gap but Sheehan and Jamie O’Sullivan were quick to respond. The Lakers’ defence continued to stifle the Celtics offence but found it hard to cash in at the other end . But their spirit kept them in the fight and with a nine-point deficit at half time, 34-25, they still had their foot in the door.
The Lakers would have targeted a fast start to the third quarter and Blackwell supplied that with early buckets. Williams was causing problems cutting to the basket, cashing in from the free-throw line but Oladipupo cut the gap to five, 38-33 early doors. Williams’ threat was still strong but Snyers and Blackwell kept the Lakers in touch, the latter profiting from a big rebound from O’Callaghan.
O’Callaghan followed that work up with a basket of his own with Oladipupo again striking. Dosso gave Williams some scoring support but Rui Saravia and Snyers made sure the Celtics were still in sight heading down the stretch.
Blackwell went to work on whittling down the 10-point lead, netting twice to cut the gap to six. Williams hit one from downtown but Saravia and Jamie O’Sullivan struck back. The exchanges under the basket were physical all night long but the Lakers effort did not wilt.
But every time they came within touching distance of the Celtics, Williams inevitably had the answer. Finn Hughes gave his team a 10-oint lead which Blackwell paired back to seven.
The Celtics eventually gave themselves some daylight with Hughes picking up the baton from Williams. Snyers kept the Celtics honest right till the end and although the final score would see the Celtics 75-63 to the good, the home side certainly died with their boots on. If they continue to carry this fight to the end of the season they’ll win more games than they lose.
Mikah Blackwell led the way in scoring with 21 points, Darnell Snyers had 18, Abdul Oladipupo and Mark Sheehan had six each, Jamie O’Sullivan and Rui Saravia both scored four and Oisin Spring and Darragh O’Callaghan hit two each.
Ariyon Williams was the game MVP with 40 points, Abdul Wurie had nine, Finn Hughes eight and Eoghan Donaghy five.
The Lakers are at home on the next four Saturday nights, starting with Ulster University at 7.30pm. That is followed by the Killarney Derby on March 1 with Moy Tolka Rovers due on March 8 and Limerick Sport Eagles swooping on Killarney on March 15.
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