Preview by Enda Walshe
The first home game of Scott’s Lakers new season is this Saturday night when they entertain newcomers Tipp Talons in the Killarney Sports and Leisure Centre (7.30pm).
And a bit like the buses when you’re waiting for one, two come along. The Titans will travel south on Saturday, October 19 and following this week’s national cup draw, it will be a dress rehearsal for their cup clash in early November.
The Talons, who are based in Thurles, have entered Division 1 following a successful run through the recently established development leagues and they got a real baptism of fire in the opening round last weekend when they met the seasoned Limerick Celtics. To their credit they put in an extremely impressive performance, holding the perennial contenders for three quarters of the game.
And they did so without recent new signing Miles Felletti who missed the clash with his old club. Felletti has garnered a lot of experience in his time in the national league with the Treatymen and he’ll be a huge addition to the men from the Premier county.
In Shemarri Miles they seem to have picked up a potent point guard. He netted 29 against the Celtics and the Principia College graduate will take some minding. Justin Wickham is on a scholarship programme in the Technical University in Thurles and will be a big influence in the paint.
Sammy Bah played with the other Limerick side, the Sport Eagles, previously and will bring that experience to the Talons once again not to mention his eye for a shot. He famously hit 10 threes in a 48-point haul for the Talons last season.
Adam Parker, Niall Walsh and Arthur Geronimo have all led the way through those development leagues.
For Lakers coach Ron Howard, last time out in Waterford was a mixed bag. When the team got it right, in both offence and defence, they looked in command of the game but an Aaron Jackson inspired Vikings side just wouldn’t let go.
And while the game was abandoned with 19 seconds to go it would be worth noting that the Lakers were in arrears, albeit by one point. The subsequent abandonment looks like it will lead to the awarding of the game for the Killarney side so the squad will be eager to make sure they have their noses in front at the final buzzer this weekend
What looked apparent in pre-season was that Mikah Blackwell looked comfortable at this level and so it proved in Waterford when he hit 42 points. He certainly brings excitement to the team and very often that brings out the best in others.
Patrick Lanipekun had a solid debut, tasked with carrying the ball and he has built up a nice rapport with Blackwell. Rui Saravia will be looking to bring the intensity to the defence, something coach Howard sees as a non-negotiable.
Eoin Carroll, the O’Sullivans, Jack and Jamie, and Mark Sheehan certainly brought that with them to the table at times last weekend so the goal now is to bring consistency. Rathmore duo John Hughes and Shane Daly will be delighted to have got their national league debuts under their belts, Daly in particular showed a keen eye for the basket.
Oisin Spring will be looking to build on a strong pre-season while Darragh O’Callaghan is starting to benefit from his time training with the squad.
There is always expectation around the start of a season and having two home games in a row early on affords the Lakers the opportunity to build up some momentum. The home support since returning to the league has been fantastic so coach Howard will be asking the Killarney people to give his young squad every encouragement possible.
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