Men’s Basketball League Division 1:
Limerick Sport Eagles 72
Scotts Lakers 81
Report: Enda Walshe
A double header weekend in the Men’s Basketball League ended in double delight for Scotts Lakers as they followed up the local derby win on Saturday night with a hard-fought win over the Limerick Sport Eagles in the University of Limerick Arena on Monday.
In front of the watching All-Blacks rugby team, who happened to be training in a nearby court, it was a physical encounter where both teams dug in deep for the points.
The Eagles were coming off a trimming from their neighbours, the Celtics, on Saturday night and it was understandable that they put up the road blocks early. The Lakers, for their part, operated a high energy press from the get go and for the majority of the game, defences were on top.
Coach Ron Howard was very pleased with their efforts but is looking for more.
“I want us to elevate our level of intensity moving forward. Consistent energy and effort are key to any success,” he declared.
The opening quarter was intense with the hosts setting the tempo with Obi Josephs and Ignacho Folgueiras getting their eye in and Alexander Carisle helped open up a 17-12 Eagles lead at the close of the quarter. With good work from Snyers, Blackwell and Saravia, the lead was cut to 36-34 at half-time but, crucially, Folgueiras was on four fouls and sitting down.
It was 60-56 at the end of quarter three and the Eagles made a bold bid at the start of the fourth with O’Connell hitting another three and Ryan still lurking.
Blackwell kept them at bay but Mark Sheehan then came up with a defining moment. He chased down a loose ball and turned outside the arc to nail a huge three.
Carroll followed it up with another crucial basket to make it an eight-point game, 69-61. Throwing caution to the wind, Folgueiras hit two from downtown to narrow it to just two points but Blackwell came up with another big moment to extend the advantage.
The Eagles suffered a double blow when Carlisle got fouled out and then Blackwell put a dagger to their hearts with a big three.
With the game and time slipping away, the Eagles attempted to prolong the game with some tactical fouling but that played into the barrow of Blackwell and Snyers who were flawless from the free throw line. After an industrious bank holiday weekend, the Lakers returned home with the bacon, courtesy of an 81-72 win.
Mikah Blackwell led the way with 36 points, Darnell Snyers hit 22, Eoin Carroll hit double figures again with 13, Mark Sheehan had six while Jack O’Sullivan and Rui Saravia both registered two.
For the Eagles Alexander Carlisle and Ignacio Folgueiras both hit 16 and Ajay Ryan Walsh shot 13.
Coach Howard picked out Snyers, Carroll and Sheehan for special mention: “It was fantastic to see Darnell pushing the ball and attacking the rim. He lit it up with 22. Mark had an outstanding defensive performance holding Carlisle to just 16 points.
“Eoin stepped up big on defence. He made it tough for Nacho Folgueiras and made it tough for him to find his rhythm.”
He also singled out Blackwell for special mention: “He poured in 26 points and grabbed eight boards. That big three-pointer in the fourth quarter gave us the control we needed to finish strong”.
It was a golden week for the Lakers with three wins, if you can count the Vikings’ decision, and they head to Galway next Saturday for a national cup tie with the Titans.
Having got a close up view of the leagues form team only two weeks ago, they travel up west knowing exactly what’s in front of them. Tip-off in the Ballinfoile Community Centre is at 7.00pm.
Killarney Cougars, meanwhile, suffered a 30-points defeat, 96-66, at the hands of Limerick Celtics, despite notable contributions from Kani Glover (24), Joshua Strongman (19) and Gerdas Malukas (13).
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