Enda Walshe reports on a thrilling all-Killarney national league derby which saw Lakers snatch victory away to rivals Cougars on a 91-86 scoreline
This was a frenetic local derby where the result was only decided in the final moments and it was Scotts Lakers who will hold the bragging rights for the foreseeable future.
The pace of the game never let up and it gave the capacity crowd that crammed into the Presentation Gym full value for their entry fee.
This game had everything you could ask for with some outstanding shooting, dunks, blocked shots but, probably most importantly, two teams with a huge hunger for the points.
The win shifts Ron Howard’s side on three wins from their four outings, having been awarded a 20-0 win for the abandoned game in Waterford.
Once again it was Mikah Blackwell who topped the scoring charts but he got more than enough support from Darnell Snyers, Abdul Oladipupo, Mark Sheehan and Eoin Carroll.
Snyers brought a sharpness to the point guard position while Oladipupo showed tremendous versatility.
Sheehan came up with some big points when it mattered with Carroll battling manfully under the boards. The Cougars revolved their efforts around the trio of Joshua Strongman, Kani Glover and Gerdas Malukas who accounted for all but two of their points.
The opening minutes gave a taste of what was in store with both sides making smooth starts. Strongman and Malukas, only signed midweek, got the Cougars going but it was only the signal for Snyers and Sheehan to strike from downtown.
Carroll followed suit and Oladipupo made it a 10-7 lead before a period of Cougars dominance. League top scorer Glover got dialled in, helping the Cougars into a 19-13 advantage, Blackwell got his mojo flowing with Rui Saravia also netting but left hander Strongman and Glover from the free throw line made sure the Cougars led 24-21.
The second quarter saw Blackwell go to work. He hit 14 points in the period and it was also worthy as both Strongman and Malukas ran into foul trouble for the home side.
Saravia was coolness personified from the free-throw line to draw level and Eoin Carroll showed great nimbleness inside to nudge the Lakers in front. But Glover and Strongman were combining to put the Cougars ahead, albeit temporarily, as Blackwell had the Lakers 41-39 in front as they hit the locker rooms.
Malukas was back on court at the start of the third, making his presence felt, to put the Cougars ahead. But Blackwell taking delivery of a splendid Saravia pass, made sure it was the last time the Cougars would hold a lead in the game.
Syners and Carroll pushed it out further but a technical foul was called on Saravia as he sought a hearing on a debatable call. Oladipupo was instrumental at that juncture as the momentum started to swing in the Lakers’ favour.
Blackwell put the Lakers 62-56 ahead after a frantic period of play. Snyers had a bit of razzle dazzle to hit the two and one but Strongman responded, the Lakers now 10 to the good, 67-57.
A Snyers’ three at the onset of the fourth quarter might have been the signal for a Lakers’ cakewalk but the Cougars thought differently. Malakus hit a three but almost immediately fouled out. Strongman and Glover picked up the baton hitting six on the spin forcing a Lakers’ time-out.
Sheehan walked out of the time-out to hit a big three, which was immediately followed up by Oladipupo with a great move. Glover responded but Oladipupo stuffed home the ball to make it a 10-point game, 77-67.
Glover had his gun out of the holster closing the gap to two again but that man Sheehan hit another three to give the Lakers breathing space. Blackwell and Carroll had to sit out some of the quarter with foul trouble but their return coincided with the Cougars running into team fouls. A
fter Oladipupo struck again on the breakaway it was left to the cool hands of Blackwell and Sheehan to clinch the win with Snyers having the last say in a 91-86 triumph.
Mikah Blackwell top scored with 38, Abdul Oladipupo and Darnell Syners had 14 each, Mark Sheehan had 11, Eoin Carroll 10 and Rui Saravia four.
For the Cougars Kani Glover had 37, Joshua Strongman hit 31 and Gerdas Malukas 16.
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