No Superleague for Lakers

DESPITE a gallant team effort, Scotts Lakers were eventually outgunned by DBS Eanna in the National League Division One semi-final in Rathfarnham last Saturday.

The Killarney side led at halftime but faded late in the final quarter and the final margin of 17 points on the scoreboard wasn’t a fair reflection of the difference between the sides. Any prospects of Superleague basketball returning to Killarney and having three Kerry teams in the top flight next season were dashed with this result.

Stefan Zecevic was prominent for Eanna from an early stage with big three-pointers but Papito Hersisia was enjoying his best game of the season for Lakers and really showed his true potential in this match. By the end of the first quarter the Dutch power forward had 16 points on the board and was causing problems for Eanna who led 30-20 at the end of the first period.

Lakers really stepped it up in the second quarter and enjoyed a narrow 42-43 advantage at the interval break.

Exchanges continued to be closely contested and the home side led 53-52 with less than six minutes left in the third quarter. Lakers captain Mark Greene was particularly prominent reproducing the terrific form that he has shown all season and ten points from him in this quarter kept the Killarney side firmly in contention. However Joshua Wilson and Neil Lynch were also very effective and the home side led 68-63 as the game entered the final quarter.

It was still a five point game, 7671, midway through the final period but Eanna’s greater strength in depth and extra options from the bench was a big difference as the Scotts Lakers challenge faded.

Hersisia, who had been outstanding to lead the Killarney challenge with 26 first half points and a 34-point total by the end of the third quarter, wasn’t the same dominant force in the final period and could only manage two points in the final period.

The home side had a flurry of late baskets to put a rather flattering 17 point difference on the scoreboard.

Eanna were firm favourites to advance in this game but Scotts Lakers put up a great challenge for long periods. Despite playing with a depleted squad in recent weeks, the Killarney side came close to challenging and qualifying for promotion to the Superleague. With a bit more luck and extra strength in depth, they might have pulled it off.

From Division One B champions last season to league semi-finalists this season, it still has been good progress for Scotts Lakers in their two seasons back playing national league basketball.

DBS EANNA: Joshua Wilson 25, Neil Lynch 22, Stefan Zecevic 21, Conor Gallagher 9.

SCOTTS LAKERS: Papito Hersisia 36, Mark Greene 17, Sean O’Brien 11, Dailian Mason 6, Andrew Fitzgerald 4, Cian Clernon 4, Seamus Brosnan.

LEAGUE CUP

ATTENTION now turns to the League Cup competition this weekend and Scotts Lakers will host LYIT Donegal in Killarney this Saturday at 7.30pm. A win would see them advance to the quarter-finals and a home game on Sunday against Carlow IT or Ulster Elks.