Enda Walshe reports
WHEN Jamie O’Sullivan netted a basket to put the Lakers 56-45 points ahead in the early stages of the third quarter, it looked like a home win was in the offing at the Killarney Sports and Leisure Centre on Saturday night.
Inspired by the promptings of new signing Godwin Boahen, Scott’s Lakers St Paul’s had strung together their best half of basketball this season and, despite facing the top scorer in the League in Limerick Sport Eagles Manny Payton, they found themselves in a winning position.
The story of the opening half was the dazzling display of Boahen, who helped himself to 22 points, the outstanding defence typified by David Gleeson, the resilience of Paul Clarke and the athleticism of Rui Saravia.
Emilian Grudov wasn’t shy in his contribution either, chipping in for 12 first half points and all these ingredients saw the Lakers take a 20-15 first quarter lead.
Payton, at this juncture, seemed to be the Eagles’ sole symbol of defiance but things took a turn for the worst for him as he had to sit out the majority of the second quarter with what looked like a groin injury.
With Jack Coyne also in sick bay, the odds on a Lakers win shortened. Reece Barry climbed off the bench to keep the Eagles in touch with nine points while the bustling Ronan Cregan proved a bit of a handful. Lakers, however, still held sway at half-time leading 46-38.
The third quarter started off in even fashion with Godwin, Saravia, O’Sullivan and Grudov all finding the mark but the reintroduction of Payton and Cregan saw the momentum swing significantly in the Eagles’ favour.
With Boahen taking a break on the bench, the Eagles took control and turned an 11-point deficit into a two-point lead, 60-58.
The fourth quarter saw the Eagles continue to soar and when they stretched out their lead to 10 points, 72-62, it looked as the Lakers had lost their momentum. Cue the arrival of Senan O’Leary who nailed two big three pointers in succession and this served to put the wind back into the Lakers’ sails as Boahen, Saravia and Grudov cut the gap to one, 76-75, with just two minutes to go.
But up stepped Manny Payton, not for the first time, and he scored his side’s last nine points – on his way to a game-high 39 – and try as Boahen and co might,they couldn’t clip the Eagles wings. Payton’s 39-point contribution helped the Eagles to a 85-78 win.
There’s no doubt the Lakers are getting closer to consistency in their performances at both ends of the court and they can look forward to the visit of Limerick Celtics to the Killarney Sports and Leisure Centre next weekend.
Lakers’ top scorers: Godwin Boahen: 34, Emilian Grudov: 20, Rui Saravia: 11, Senan O’Leary: 8, Jamie O Sullivan: 4.
