Lakers record first win of the season

BASKETBALL: The most significant result in the weekend's ESB Superleague occurred at the bottom of the league table, where Killarney Lakers recorded a hard-earned 80-67 victory over Waterford Crystal.

Not only was it the first victory all season for the Kerry club, it has also resigned Waterford - the defending league champions - to the bottom of the table. Still with just one victory all season, Waterford remain just a pale shadow of the team that won the title last year, and don't look like improving anytime soon.

On Saturday Killarney narrowly lost by two points to St Vincent's, and were back on court at home yesterday determined to make up for it. Waterford suffered at the start, with Killarney opening up a 23-8 lead before the visitors responded to finish the first quarter 26-12.

Waterford's Larry Florance made his debut for the club but dislocated his finger in the third minute of the game, and Killarney continued to dominate the second quarter leading, 43-32 at half time. A series of three-pointers from Padraig Morrissey helped draw Waterford back to 64 points apiece in the closing minutes, but further three-pointers from Shane Horgan and Tyrone Levitts allowed Killarney to pull away for the deserved win.

Elsewhere, Neptune remain four points clear at the top of the table despite a sluggish performance against Limerick. Only in the last quarter did Neptune pick up the pace and with the six minutes left in the game opened up an eight-point lead, 69-61. Limerick tied it again in the closing minutes, but Kenny Gamble helped ensure the game ended in Neptune's favour - 83-80.

Killester also picked up some hard-earned league points when they defeated the UCC Demons 91-87 in a closely fought contest in Clontarf. Demons enjoyed a very brief advantage, 59-58, before Killester finished the quarter third 67-64, and then took the narrow victory.

WEEKEND RESULTS

Men's Superleague: Sx3 Star 97 (45) (C Mason 28, J Leahy 19, P Campolieta 18), Tolka Rovers 75 (33) (K McFarland 24, E Quill 20, E Darling 11); ITP Saints 89 (45) (T Walsh 20, P Madsen 16, M Chadwick 15), Killarney Lakers 87 (38) (J Estick 38, T Levitts 15, G Noonan 16); Tralee Tigers 67 (33) (B Craddock 25, C Davis 19, C Thompson 9), UCD Marian 76 (32) (J Turner 18, M Trimmer 14, G Edge 14); Neptune 83(36) (K Gamble 26, C Watson 19, S McCarthy 13), Limerick 80 (35) (N Henry 21, D Hynes 17, M Hall 10); Killester 91 (43) (R Gidney 33, C Ellis 17, D Sealy 15), Mardyke UCC Demons 87 (43) (B Romano 24, J Singleton 26, B Clernon 19); Killarney Lakers 80 (43) (T Levitts 34, J Estick 21), Waterford Crystal 67 (32) (L Dean 20, L Florance 15, J Malone 10).

STANDINGS: Neptune (9-8-1) 16; ITP Saints (8-6-2) 12; SX3 Star (7-6-1) 12; UCD Marian (7-5-2) 10; Killester (7-4-3) 8; Mardyke UCC Demons (8-4-4) 8; Tralee Tigers (9-4-5) 8; Limerick (9-4-5) 8; Notre Dame (7-3-4) 6; Tolka Rovers (8-2-6) 4; Killarney Lakers (8-1-7) 2; Waterford Crystal (9-1-8) 2.