Killorglin suffer first defeat of season after going down to Templeogue

MEN’S SUPERLEAGUE

Templeogue 85 KSV Killorglin 70

KEANES Supervalu Killorglin made the long jurney to Dublin last Saturday night when they travelled up to take on basketball powerhouse Templeogue in round three of the mens super league.

Killorglin went into the game on a high , with two wins from two against Tralee Warriors and Moycullen, while Templeogue were the other only unbeaten super league side, also with two from two. In addition, Templeogue had changed americans during the week and signed last years Superleague player of the year Dee Proby, who is a massive signing for them so it was always going to be a difficult ask for Keanes to get a result out of this game.

However, Killorglin got the start they were looking for and with Killorglins own American Pierre Newton in top form, they were matching templeogue score for score in the first. Daragh Jones and Ivan Bogdanovic continued their early season good form and after a score from Jones, it was clear that Templeogue knew they were in a game. The opening period finished with an offensive barge call on Daniel Jacobitus and this left us with first quarter score of Templeogue 18 Killorglin 16.

There is a fantastic skill set in this killorlgin team and this was demostrated by Eoin O’Sullivan when he euro stepped his way to the board to make the basket, but this was followed by a number of unanswered scores from Templeogue, primarily from Proby and Jason Killeen. With 7.38 left in the period, Templeogue led by 8 points. However, Killorglin came back strongly and after a three pointer from Ivan Bogdanovic, it left Killorglin with a single basket lead at the buzzer. The half-time score was 44-22 in Killorglin’s favour.

They say the third quarter is the ‘championship’ quarter with games very often won and lost in this period and this was definitely the case in this game. Templeogue cam out with all guns blazing and straight away added seven points to their total, without reply from Killorglin. Proby, Killeen and in particular, Lorcan Murphy were causing Killorglin all sorts of problems and by the time the buzzer went to signal the end of the period, the gap was 72-59 to Templeogue.

Killorglin threw everything they had at Templeogue at the start of the fourth and for a short period, it looked like they might get back in the game. Unanswered three pointers from Pierre Newtin and Declan Wall had the lead down to single figures, but after a welltimed time out, Templeogue were able to regroup and they stretched out the lead again, so that by the time the game ended, the gap was up to 15.

So a first loss for Killorglin but they have no time to wallow, with a massive home game this Saturday against Pryobel Killester. That game tips off at 7.15pm in local Sports Complex.

TOP SCORERS

KEANES SV KILLORGLIN: Pierre Newton 23 pts, Daniel Jacobitus 15 pts, Ivan Bogdanovic 8 pts

TEMPLEOGUE BC: Lorcan Murphy 26 pts, Jason Killeen 15 pts, Dee Proby 11 pts