Scott’s Lakers St Paul’s 68
Fr Mathews, Cork 75
Enda Walshe reports
Scott’s Lakers St Paul’s were left to rue a slow start and a stuttering finish to this National Basketball League clash played in the Killarney Sports and Leisure Centre on Sunday.
Pre-game a minute’s silence was held in memory of the late Padraig Harnett, Kerry Area Basketball Board PRO and journalist of some renown, in an arena where he was a frequent attendee.
The visitors shot out of the blocks early in the game, a start that the Lakers seemed to have weathered but Fr Mathews brewed up another storm late in the third which blew into the final quarter and they deservedly ran out 73-68 winners.
The home side will be very disappointed with their display and although not lacking in effort, it seemed that the harder they tried the more it didn’t work.
A home cup tie next Saturday night against the Dublin Lions will offer them the opportunity to put things right ahead of a Killarney Derby date with the Cougars on November 12.
Coach Jarlath Lee put out a strong starting five of Jack Ferguson, Aron Walker, Rui Saravia, Ronan Collins and Mark O’Shea but it was Brian O’Neill, Darko Bucan and Diego O’Herlihy who put Fr Mathews seven clear.
Jack Ferguson with a three temporarily halted the momentum but O’Herlihy combined with Bucan and Garcia to push it out to 16-6 with Ronan Collins nailing a home side three pointer.
Garcia rolled it up to 24-6 as the Lakers five was rotated in an effort to gain some footing. Eventually it was Jack O’Sullivan who stepped in, hitting two baskets in a row and leaving the first quarter at 26-10.
Aron Walker started the second quarter in very business-like fashion netting the opening eight points for the rejuvenated Lakers and with the defence tightening up it allowed Jack O’Sullivan and Marko Bencic to close the gap to nine, 34-25.
A Brian O’Neill three-pointer was Fr Mathews last input for a while as Walker with a basket and Senan O’Leary and Jack Ferguson with five each completed the second quarter renaissance and the Lakers led by one, 38-37. Darko Bucan did finish the half with two free throws but it was definitely game on, Fr Mathews leading by the minimum, 39-38.
The opening two minutes of the third were nip and tuck but a couple of threes from Senan O’Leary and Jack Ferguson and it looked like the Lakers would wrestle the momentum with a five-point lead, 46-41.
In truth, however, they couldn’t break any further away as Fr Mattews reeled them in with Aaron O’Donovan, Sean McManus, O’Neill and Bucan prominent. Former Laker O’Neill was finding his range from three-point land and despite the best efforts of Rui Saravia, the visitors again held the initiative at three quarter stage, 61-54.
Jack Ferguson and Jamie O’Sullivan chipped in for the Lakers but that was replied to by Owen Connolly and Sean McManus.
The Lakers were pushing hard at this stage – with no lack of effort – but it seemed that the final pass or the right option went a begging. They did cut the gap to five, 66-61, with five minutes left on the clock but every time they got within touching distance Fr Mathews moved on again.
There were still only five in it, 70-65, manageable with almost three minutes on the clock but Brian O’Neill let the air out of that particular balloon with a three from the corner. The final two minutes were played in a scrappy manner with the visitors triumphant on a 75-68 scoreline.
Coach Jarlath Lee will be very disappointed with certain aspects of his side’s play with only the second quarter and half the third quarter seeing them play to their potential. Having said that, Fr Mathews are a wily and physical side and one you have to be at your best against for long periods to get the better of.
But there’s no better place to bounce back than on the court and the next two weekends will give them ample opportunity to do so.
Top scorers for the Lakers were Jack Ferguson with 18, Aron Walker had 16, Senan O’Leary hit eight, Rui Saravia was on seven, 7, Jack O’Sullivan and Ronan Collins both notched six, Marko Bencic finished on five 5 and Jamie O’ Sullivan bahhed two.
Jonathan Garcia led the winners with 22 points, Brian O Neill had 14, Diego O’Herlihy shot nine while Owen Connolly, Darko Bucan and Sean McManus had eight each.
The Abbey Seal Dublin Lions come to town next Saturday for the first round of Men’s President’s National Cup with a 7.30 tip-off in the Killarney Sports and Leisure Centre.
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