Scott’s Lakers 72
Drogheda Wolves 91
Report by Enda Walshe
With a half-time advantage of 48-40, everything looked in hand for Scott’s Lakers to extend their unbeaten home record against the visiting Drogheda Wolves in Killarney on Saturday night.
That lead had been sculpted against the background of scorer-in-chief Braden Bell dicing with foul trouble but the team collectively chipped in to great effect, none more so than Jamie O’Sullivan who had a golden second quarter.
The third quarter is now very often dubbed as the pivotal one, where a team either tightens its grip on the game or else relinquishes its hold. It would be too simplistic to say the Lakers lost control in this period because there were definitely extenuating circumstances behind the monumental turnaround.
With Bell walking the tightrope, Terion Moss had stepped up once again nailing 14 first half points and as he chipped in another deuce he landed awkwardly on his ankle to the audible gasp of the bumper crowd. He retired to the bench for treatment as the Wolves sniffing blood went on the attack.
The Lakers had, admirably, held their own in his absence but when Jack O’Sullivan twisted his ankle on landing, one wondered if it was Halloween rather than Christmas.
Drogheda were definitely on the prowl at that stage and ended the quarter 10 points to the good, outscoring the Lakers 28-10 in 10 minutes. The visitors got great joy out of the fast break, countless times they ran the court for an easy lay-up after a Laker shot failed to drop.
The first quarter closed 20-18 in Drogheda’s favour but good work from Eoin Carroll and Jamie O’Sullivan hitting a hat-trick of threes saw the Lakers bouncing into the changing rooms 48-40 to the good at half-time.
Moss, injured in the act of the scoring early in the third quarter made it 50-42 but Mullally and Pereira upped the tempo to close the gap to 52-49. The same duo helped Drogheda into the lead as Jack O’Sullivan left the court in visible discomfort.
With a physical advantage and now making full use of the fast break Drogheda accelerated into the lead. Bell was now back on court and he tried to stem the tide but a couple of threes from Copman outdid all of his work.
With a 10-point deficit to overhaul Moss rejoined proceedings although not looking as mobile as usual but Drogheda were in an unforgiving mood and the winning margin was eventually extended to 19 points, 91-72.
Braden Bell top scored for the Lakers on 21 points, Terion Moss had 18, Jamie O’Sullivan had his season’s best 17 points, Eoin Carroll netted six, Jack O Sullivan and Paul Clarke finished on four each and Oisin Spring hit two. For the Wolves Adam Mullally was MVP with 36 points.
The immediate priority for Lakers’ coach Brian Clarke will be to get a handle on the injury front. Speaking post game Terion Moss felt he would be good to go for the next game, in Portlaoise on January 13 so the obvious worry would be Jack O’Sullivan.
He received lengthy treatment afterwards and initial thoughts are that we would be doubtful for that trip to the midlands. A derby date on Saturday, January 27 is the Lakers’ other assignment next month.
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