Enda Walshe looks ahead to Saturday night’s important clash between Scott’s Lakers and Malahide
Scotts Lakers play their first National League game for two weeks and the first in 2025 when they head to the capital to face Malahide in Dublin on Saturday.
But they haven’t been idle in that period, competing in the wonderfully organised Castleisland Blitz where they faced Superleague opposition in Tralee Warriors and Neptune.
They would have been disappointed with their performance against Tralee but redeemed themselves with a much better display against Neptune, only being pipped by a late basket.
Mater Private Malahide are coming off the back of a morale boosting win over metropolitan rivals Dublin Lions last Saturday. That game went to double overtime and it was Matthew Harper who pulled the game out of the fire in the final period. Harper hit a season high 16 points, with half that total coming in the pivotal moments.
Romonn Nelson is no stranger to Dublin or Ireland having spent four seasons previously for Superleague side Colaiste Eanna. He is averaging in the mid-20s, is lightning quick and has an accurate three-point shot.
Brothers Sean and Cian Daly are impressive performers while Oisin Rice is now firmly entrenched in Malahide after a spell with the Dublin Lions.
They sit just behind the Lakers on the League standings with a 7-4 record but none of their defeats were blowouts so an ultra-competitive game is in store.
January will see the Lakers lightly raced with only two fixtures with a trip to the Titans on January 25 also in the offing. Thereafter six of their last eight fixtures will be in the Killarney Sports and Leisure so the solid start to the season has definitely given them a foothold in their quest for the play-offs.
Central to the run has been their away form with the Limerick Celtics trip being the only negative experience. After a couple of changes on and off the court, the focus now will be on putting the finishing touches to the game plan.
Mikah Blackwell is one of the league’s top scorers but, far from being a one-trick pony, he figures in the top five for steals in the league. Mark Sheehan’s three-point percentage make, at over 40%, is higher than any of the league’s sharpshooters with Eoin Carroll’s rebounding stats climbing upwards.
Jack O’Sullivan has shown a hunger in recent weeks while the pace of Darnell Snyers is key to fast offence. Rui Saravia brings a lot more than stats as his off court leadership is exemplary and he is a good influence on the likes of Shane Daly, John Hughes and Darragh O’Callaghan.
It’s hard to believe Oisin Spring and Jamie O’Sullivan are still tender in years given their experience. December has seen Abdul Oladipupo really get his figures up– he averaged 16 points per game in the festive month – and all of these trends will have to continue if the Lakers are to reach the promised land of the play-offs.
The tip-off in Malahide Community School is 7.00pm as Manual Suarez looks to make it three wins on the bounce since his appointment.
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