National League Division One
Killarney Cougars 84
Waterford Vikings 93
Report: Dave Ahern
Killarney Cougars put on a strong display at the Presentation Gym on Saturday evening in this round two national league game, showing heart and determination against a strong Waterford Vikings side.
Despite a late surge that had the home crowd on their feet, the Vikings managed to edge out the Cougars in a game that was fiercely contested until the final whistle.
Waterford got off to a fast start, with Jay Kavanagh sinking an early three-pointer that ignited a period of Viking dominance.
By the five-minute mark, they had stretched their lead to 15-5, with Denis Miculescu draining two more three-pointers to increase the pressure.
But the Cougars, not to be outdone, rallied after a well-timed timeout. Kani Glover came alive, hitting two three-pointers and scoring 10 points in the first quarter, helping the Cougars finish the quarter strong, trailing 24-17.
The second quarter saw a rejuvenated Cougars side. Their defense tightened up and the offence started to click. A three-pointer by Nathan Cox fired up the home crowd and Joshua Strongman added six points during a dominant spell that saw Bill Wiseman put the Cougars ahead 28-26.
The energy in the gym was palpable as the Cougars extended their lead to 32-26 midway through the quarter. But Waterford were quick to respond, with Kavanagh again leading the charge and James Aboaba proving to be a real threat on the boards.
The Vikings managed to wrestle back the lead, closing out an exhilarating half ahead 41-36.
The third quarter was a tough one for the Cougars as Waterford’s Aaron Jackson began to take control of the game. Jackson was relentless, scoring 12 points in the quarter as the Vikings capitalised on several Cougars’ turnovers.
The momentum swung firmly in Waterford’s favor and they built what seemed like an insurmountable 68-51 lead heading into the final quarter.
The determined Cougars never gave up and the fourth quarter was a testament to their fighting spirit. Nathan Cox caught fire, hitting three quick three-pointers that electrified the gym and brought the Cougars roaring back into the contest.
With five minutes left, the gap had narrowed to just seven points at 77-70. Strongman and Glover, spurred on by the passionate home support, continued to chip away at the lead. A clutch basket from Patrick O’Regan brought the Cougars within two points, 82-80, with just over two minutes left on the clock.
The atmosphere was intense with the Cougars on the verge of an incredible comeback. However, foul trouble caught up with the team and the loss of Strongman proved critical.
The Vikings, cool under pressure, made the most of their opportunities at the free-throw line, sinking nine points to secure the win.
While the final scoreline favored Waterford, the Cougars’ performance was packed with promise. Their young side showed flashes of brilliance, particularly in their ability to fight back from adversity. The team is growing and with a bit more consistency, they have the potential to compete with anyone in the league.
With this level of effort and determination, next weekend’s away game against Moycullen in Galway promises to be another exciting battle. The Cougars will surely take the lessons from this hard-fought contest to come back stronger.
Top scorers
Killarney Cougars: Kani Glover: 25; Joshua Strongman: 22, Nathan Cox: 15.
Waterford Vikings: Aaron Jackson: 34, James Aboaba: 27, Jay Kavanagh: 11.
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