Enda Walshe reports on Scotts Lakers’ latest men’s basketball league outing which saw them lose on an 84-92 scoreline to Galway Titans
Coach Ron Howard will be eyeing improvement ahead of the first Killarney derby of the year after seeing his side just come up short against the league’s form time the Galway Titans.
The Titans came to Killarney with two very impressive wins over the Cougars and Limerick Sport Eagles and there was no halting their momentum as they recorded a 92-84 win in the Killarney Sports and Leisure Centre.
Central to that triumph was the Anglo American alliance of Charles Pepin and Michael Hayes who combined for a total of 68 points and over 20 rebounds. Pepin was a big presence in the paint, his bustling style hard to manage while Hayes, as a left-hander, was notoriously hard to mark.
Each time the Lakers looked to be getting a foothold in the game Joseph Coughan and Matthew Sweeney would pop up and the Titans headed back up the west coast with three wins from three.
Having said all that, the Lakers have something to build on. Eoin Carroll’s curve continues to go upwards and he had another double double with 17 points and 11 rebounds. Mark Sheehan hit double figures again while Rui Saravia had his best outing to date.
You know what you’re going to get from Mikah Blackwell while Oisin Spring’s contribution is growing. Darnell Snyers hit 13 on his debut while Abdul Oladipupo will appreciate another week to settle in. With a few changes in personnel during the week the team will benefit from more time together.
The opening quarter saw Eoin Carroll settle early into his stride after Snyers shot an opening three. Hayes showed his dexterity as Pepin used his brawn to good effect. At 12-7 in the Titans favour the Lakers introduced Oladipupo, Spring and Jamie O’Sullivan and it saw the lead whittled down to two, 20-18 courtesy of Blackwell and Saravia.
Carroll and Blackwell hit the opening salvos of the second quarter but Michael Gormley stole in the back door to reply. Hayes broke away, his monster dunk almost a symbol of defiance and that propelled the Titans into a 35-24 lead.
Eoin Carroll had picked up his third foul at this stage but in a measure of the contest under the boards, so had Pepin. Hayes was smooth as ever and alongside Victor Tashev they maintained the gap at 11 despite a Mark Sheehan three, 43-32, with the half closing. In what seemed like a crucial phase though Blackwell and Snyers reeled in the Titans to just four at the break, 43-39.
The third quarter started in a whirlwind with Saravia finishing off a lightning break, Sheehan hitting a three and Blackwell doing Blackwell things and the Lakers were now three up, 51-48.
In a defining period Pepin went to work and Blackwell picked up his fourth foul. Hayes was at his fluid best but Pepin was starting to get his dander up, leading to him getting benched in foul trouble. Despite baskets from Sheehan, Oladipupo and Saravia the Titans now sat clear at 71-58.
Lakers kept Titans honest, battling throughout the fourth quarter but they could never get it down to a margin where the Galway side might get jiggy. Throwing caution to the wind, Blackwell and Carroll were unleashed despite foul trouble and some good shooting from Sheehan, Syners and the aforementioned tried hard.
With Pepin fouled out the towering Irish international Declan Gbinigie rubbed the salt into the Lakers wounds with Hayes applying the finishing touches to a 92-84 away win.
Mikah Blackwell was the Lakers’ main man again with 29 points, Eoin Carroll had 17, Mark Sheehan hit 14, Darnell Snyers contributed 13, Rui Saravia had nine and Abdul Oladipupo managed two.
Michael Hayes checked out with 44 points, Charles Pepin scored 24, Matthew Sweeney hit eight, Joseph Coughlan made seven and Declan Gbinigie notched six.
Coach Ron Howard, looking ahead to the Cougars game, will be working hard in training during the week: “We got to move the ball a bit quicker. We were a bit stagnant on offence and we didn’t do as good as we would have liked on our principles”.
On his side’s defence, Howard noted: “We need to be a bit more aware but we’re looking forward to our derby game next weekend. I feel like a native here already – it’s the biggest game of the year and we’ll be ready for it”.
The Presentation Gym will play host to the clash next Saturday night with a 7.30pm tip-off. The Cougars have yet to get off the mark this year but will be targeting this one for their maiden win.
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