Galway Titans 91
Scott’s Lakers 84
Report: Enda Walshe
A greater scoring spread ensured that when Scott’s Lakers look back at season’s end, they will remember the Titans as the Galway side picked up the win in The Jes on Sea Road in Galway.
And while the westerners may have found wins scarce, the warning signs were there from the meeting between the same two sides last October when they outscored the Lakers in three of the four quarters but were undone by a second quarter blitz.
Deontae Robertson and Comhghall McCormack caused the Lakers all sorts of problems in the opening half with Jackson Soper taking over the tormentor-in-chief duties, especially in the final quarter. Samuel Mensah was also a physical presence throughout and every time it looked like the Lakers were getting a foothold in the game, one of the aforementioned shut the door firmly on that idea.
All is not lost though for the Lakers, however, as their rivals for a play-off place both lost over the weekend, the Limerick Sport Eagles, to their city rivals the Celtics and Waterford Vikings, to UCD Marian. All of which means that two wins will absolutely guarantee the Lakers a play-off place – and maybe even one victory might suffice.
And with a Killarney derby on the menu next weekend, all eyes will be on that for the bounce-back.
Titans were nine clear at the end of the first quarter 29-20 but good work from Eoin Carroll and Braden Bell trimmed it to five, 39-34.
It must also be said at this point that Rui Saravia’s influence on the game was curtailed by some early fouls as Mark Sheehan and Jamie O’Sullivan toiled hard against the physically bigger Titans. Some smart play from Leondre Washington, had the game at a manageable 46-42.
The third quarter was equally tight but one in which the Lakers could never get their noses in front an d the gap was three, 62-59, at the three quarter stage.
The fourth quarter, as is often the case, was the highest scoring, as the Titans made the break for home.
They stretched the lead to14 but back came the Lakers, through Washington and Bell, to cut the deficit with 1.56 to go.
But Thiam and Soper were now ebullient for the Titans and with Robertson arriving on cue, the game was up at 91-78. Washington did throw in two late three pointers but it was all academic, the scoreboard reading 91-78 in the Titans favour.
It was not the best of nights for the Lakers with just four players on the scoresheet but the upcoming Killarney Cougars game offers a chance for redemption.
Leondre Washington hit 34, Braden Bell scored 31, Eoin Carroll impressed with 17 and Oisin Spring notched two.
Deontae Robertson shot 25 for the winners, Comhghall McCormack was on 19, Jackson Soper om 17, Samuel Mensah on 12, Malik Thiam hit eight and Declan Gbinigie posted four.
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