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SCOTTS LAKERS face a tough challenge this evening when they host local rivals Keanes Killorglin in Killarney Sports Centre at 7.30pm. Killorglin have enjoyed a tremendous start to the league campaign with three wins from three outings and will make the short trip to Killarney in confident mood.

The visitors have one of the best squads in the league with four foreign players. Americans Kevin Gray and Mark St Fort are joined by Ivan Bogdanovic, a 6'9" power forward from Croatia and Lithuanian star Daniel Jokubaitis.

Former Neptune player Ian McLoughlin and former Castleisland point guard Declan Wall add a lot of experience to the side that includes a number of young players from the very promising Killorglin U-18 team such as Eoin Evan, David McCarty, Eoin O Sullivan, Liam Croke and former St. Paul's underage player Ewan Weldon. Lithuanian coach Ignas Sijanas is assisted by former Killarney player Charlie Buckley.

On paper it appears a really difficult task for Scotts Lakers coach Vojkan Bencic and his squad. The Killarney side will welcome the return of Padraig Lucey this weekend and will need a huge performance from everybody to compete with this star studded Killorglin line-up. Antuan Bootle has shown that he is more than able to create difficulty for every opposition if he gets a decent supply of the ball under the board. Justin Tuason, Andrew Fitzgerald, Mark Greene, Philip O'Connor, Cian Clernon, Shane Horgan and Mihail Kapitanov are all capable of stepping up on the big occasion and have the ability to challenge Killorglin in every sector.

A big crowd of travelling supporters are expected from Mid Kerry and Scotts Lakers will need all the Killarney basketball followers to come out in force again for this one.

Supporters should make an effort to arrive early to ensure admission and take note of a new one way entry system that will be in operation indoors in the sports centre before and during the match to facilitate the movement of people to and from the seating areas. Doors will open at 6.30pm and seating is allocated on a first come first served basis. Patrons and season ticket holders are advised to be in the sports centre by 7pm. Good news for basketball fans is that the dynamic and energetic Niall “Botty” O'Callaghan will be back in action on MC duties for this game and he has plans to entertain the fans before the match and at the half-time interval.

 
Above: A capacity crowd filled Killarney Sports Centre to watch Scotts Lakers St Pauls against Neptune in the recent national league division one basketball clash. Another big crowd is expected tonight for the local derby clash featuring Scotts Lakers and Keanes Killorglin. Supporters are encouraged to arrive early to ensure admission. Picture: Eamonn Keogh