T

THE LAKERS host Cork kingpins Neptune at 7.30pm this evening in Killarney Sports & Leisure Centre and there’s plenty to keep an eye on.

1. Can the Lakers keep the momentum going?

It has been the perfect start to the season for the Scotts Lakers who followed up their dramatic opening night win over the Dublin Lions with an emphatic comeback victory against LIT last weekend.

The Lakers will be hoping to continue their unbeaten run with another win on home court.

2. A home debut for Antuan Bootle

Having missed the first game through injury, 6’8” forward Antuan Bootle played five minutes in Limerick and is expected to feature heavily against Neptune on Saturday night.

Local stars Andrew Fitzgerald and Pádraig Lucey have undoubtedly done well in his absence but Lakers coach Vojkan Bencic will be hoping that Houston native Bootle will be able to come in and make his sizeable presence felt at both ends of the floor.

3. How will the Lakers line out?

League rules stipulate that teams can only have one American on the floor at any one time so the Lakers will have to rotate Bootle with Justin Tuason, who has been their top scorer in both of the first two games.

Tuason, originally from the Bay Area, has been electric thus far but Bootle’s return could potentially mean fewer minutes for him going forward, while either Lucey or Fitzgerald (if not both) are also likely to feature less prominently.

It will probably take Coach Bencic a few games before he gets an idea of his most effective rotation.

4. Neptune will surely provide the biggest test yet

Historically one of the most successful sides in Irish basketball, Neptune of Cork will also be hoping to maintain their perfect start to the season when they come to town on Saturday evening.

So far they have comfortably defeated IT Carlow (99-61), LYIT Donegal (113-80) and Sligo (89-52) – that’s an average winning margin of 36 points - and they will undoubtedly expect to come to Killarney and turn over the league’s newest team.

The reigning President’s Cup champions have a squad stacked with talent including one player who’ll be no stranger to local basketball fans: veteran Ger Noonan lined out for St Paul’s with great distinction back when the club last played at this level.

5. Another sell-out expected at The Auracle.

After a shaky start, the home support really found their voice by the end of the Dublin Lions game and the Lakers will be hoping for more of the same on Saturday. There’s a fantastic buzz around the club at the moment and fans are certain to turn out in great numbers to see Killarney’s new favourite team in action.

Neptune are bound to be very tricky opponents but, with a boisterous home crowd behind them, the Lakers will be gunning for an upset.
 

 
Above: Scotts Lakers St Paul's Killarney Basketball team members Mark Greene, Andrew Fitzgerald, Antuan Bootle and Philip O'Connor, Captain, in full flight at the launch of their new national league season campaign by the lake shore at Lough Leane, Killarney. Picture: Eamonn Keogh