Limerick Sports Eagles 94
Scott’s Lakers 74
Report: Enda Walshe
As it happened, with Killarney Cougars defeating Waterford Vikings, Scott’s Lakers play-off place was secured, regardless of the result in the University of Limerick Arena.
But Brian Clarke’s side go into the end of season really searching for their true form. A costly first quarter, which saw them trail 26-10 at its conclusion, would prove decisive in the end.
If you were to look for encouraging signs you would point to the middle two quarters, which the Lakers won by a combined score of 50-35. You would see Eoin Carroll who was superb inside all night and also Jamie O’Sullivan who had a very productive night’s work. And defensively they showed, in that period, that when they focus, they have the ability to handle any offence.
Ultimately, it was a sub-standard final quarter again that was to prove their undoing as an understrength squad probably ran out of steam in the end. The return of Paul Clarke and Jack O’Sullivan seem to be on the horizon and that will be a timely boost.
SETU Carlow are the visitors to the Killarney next Saturday night and the onus on that game will be to get all the parts working in unison ahead of their play-off clash against the Northern Conference winners, which could be any one of Portlaoise Panthers, UCD Marian or Drogheda Wolves.
Leondre Washington gave the Lakers a quick start, scoring straight from the tip-off, with Rui Saravia and Jamie O’Sullivan following suit. That helped to build up an early 6-2 lead but that was wiped out by Liam Price, Ignacis Folguerias, Sam Finley and Keelan Coats as the Eagles soared into a 16-6 lead.
Eoin Carroll stopped the rot but Coats had his eye in from three-point land and that helped the home side into a 26-10 first quarter lead.
The second quarter started on a positive note for Jamie O’Sullivan who hit five early points as the Lakers went on a 7-0 scoring run. Washington and Folgueiras went note for note from the free-throw line and with Carroll really finding his mojo the gap was now down to six, 37-31 with 1.48 to go in the half.
A big three from Liam Price didn’t deter the visitors as Bell and Carroll kept the lead at a manageable six at half time, 43-37.
The Lakers flew out of the traps in the third quarter with Carroll, Saravia and O’Sullivan making it a tie game, 45 each within two and a half minutes. They were now playing their best basketball with Bell and Carroll keeping them in front.
The lead was extended by two Washington three pointers but Finlay and Nikola Ivkovic helped the Eagles finish the half stronger but only with a slender 61-60 lead.
It was the Eagle’s turn to steal a march in the fourth quarter as Ajay Ryan, Ivkovic and Coats stole in for baskets. Carroll and Bell tried to keep pace with them but it was getting a bit too hot to handle as Folguerias went on a spree and within five minutes the gap was now pushed out to sixteen, 84-68. The remainder of the quarter saw the Eagles reassert their dominance and despite points from Washington, Bell and Carroll the promptings of Ivkovic, Killeen and Coats helped the Eagles to a 94-74 win.
Leondre Washington top scored for the Lakers with 24 points, the same number was shared equally by Jamie O’Sullivan and Braden Bell. Eoin Carroll was outstanding with 22 points while Rui Saravia hit four.
Sam Finlay had a game high 27 points, Keelan Coats 26, Nikola Ivkovic had 12, Ignacio Folguerias 11 and Liam Price nine.
Reach thousands of readers every single day: To advertise call 087-2229761 or email news@killarneytoday.com
