Scott’s Lakers 84
Mater Private Malahide 75
Report: Enda Walshe
With top scorer Braden Bell struggling with injury, and Malahide 61-58 to the good heading into the final quarter, Scott’s Lakers would have been forgiven for staring long down the barrel of the gun.
But they refused to yield and instead made a stirring final quarter charge to eventually put the squeeze on a gallant Malahide side who twice in the second half looked like they had the winning of the game.
With Bell watching from the bench, it was his compatriot Terion Moss who picked up the baton. He hit 11 points in the final quarter but struck 32 overall and, undoubtedly, gave his best performance of the season.
But he was not on his own as Eoin Carroll continued to flourish, Jack O’Sullivan came up trumps in that final period while Paul Clarke delivered at crucial moments also.
And even though he was only on court for six minutes, Mark O’Shea’s physicality was crucial in Bell’s absence. Mark Sheehan also made his return from injury and Jamie O’Sullivan and Oisin Spring helped keep the Lakers effort going when needed most.
The win leaves the Lakers on six wins from their eight games with only the Limerick Celtics ahead of them in the standings. The Celtics sole defeat came in Killarney last month and if the curve can continue to go in an upwards direction who knows what 2024 could bring for Brian Clarke’s side.
It was Malahide who sprung from the traps first Killarney Sports and Leisure Centre with Sean Daly and Matthew Harper being particularly accurate. They helped the visitors into a 10-4 lead, with Jack O’Sullivan and Moss on target.
Moss was cutting to the basket with great effect but BB Chuks Mady and Daly with a three made it 15-8. Bell hit two quick baskets but Daniel Heaney alongside Mady and Matthew Harper was beginning to cause the Lakers’ defence problems. Eoin Carroll got his first bucket from a fast breakaway and further points from Bell made it 24-17 at the conclusion of the first quarter and, at the end of the first half, with Lakers 45-39 adrift, it ensured the home side were still in the conversation.
They started the second half much the brighter with Moss, Carroll and Bell drawing them level at 51 each but Malahade had the edge, 61-58, going into the final quarter.
With Bell visibly struggling he had to retire to the bench but not before Moss picked up his baton. Jack O’Sullivan hit a three soon followed by Moss and Clarke baskets. Heaney and Harper hit back but the momentum was all with the Lakers as they kept the Dublin side scoreless in the final four minutes. All the while Moss was brandishing his own box of tricks and a sublime Jack O’Sullivan pass set up Clarke to help the Lakers 78-75 clear. Carroll made it a five-point game while Malahide ran into team foul trouble. It meant Moss and Jack O’Sullivan could seal the win from the charity stripe as the Lakers eventually ran out 84-75 winners.
Terion Moss hit a game high 32 points, Braden Bell had 19 before succumbing to injury, Eoin Carroll was impressive with 16 points, Paul Clarke scored 11 and Jack O Sullivan six.
For Malahide Daniel Heaney hit 20, BB Chuks Mady 17 and Matthew Harper 13.
The Lakers’ final game pre-Christmas is this Saturday when they meet Tolka Rovers at 7.30pm and they return to home soil on Saturday, December 30 with Drogheda Wolves the visitors to Killarney.
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