Depleted Portlaoise refuse to let up as they see off Team NorthWest

Team NorthWest 81 

ND Audit Portlaoise Panthers 95

THEY may have already secured top spot in Domino’s Men’s Division One North Conference, but ND Audit Portlaoise Panthers are not taking their foot off the gas in the approach to the play-offs, as they dug out a 14-point win over Team NorthWest with a depleted squad at ATU Donegal on Saturday evening.

Shorn the services of players, the likes of Xabi Arriaga, Cillian O’Connell, Liam Kinsella and Dylan Dunne for this road trip, Jack Scully’s side still managed to bag the spoils thanks in no small measure to the huge 40 points that James Phelan amassed, countering the impressive 33 that Shakeil Bertrand recorded for the hosts.

Phelan had a 50 percent success rate with his 12 efforts from beyond the arc and drained all, but one, of his 15 attempts from the free-throw line.

Eric Anderson made a significant 22-point contribution for the visitors and combined with Kevin Donohoe for a huge 30 rebounds on the night.

“I’m delighted with the win especially travelling up with only six players, including Jayden Umeh who’s only 17-years-old” Portlaoise head coach, Jack Scully told the *****Laois Nationalist****.

“It’s always a tough journey, so it was great to go up with a depleted squad and get a win,” he remarked.

Anderson, Phelan and Davin McEvoy all weighed in on an early ten-point run that helped propelled Portlaoise in front by eight midway through the opening quarter.

The hosts did managed to work their way back to within three, thanks to buckets from Bertrand and big scores from beyond the arc by Luke Cassidy and Tyler Mutemasango only to see Panthers respond through McEvoy, who drained two from both the free-throw line and the floor to see the visitors ahead by seven (24-17) at the close of the first quarter.

NorthWest, however, remained very much in touch and managed to overtake midway through the second period after Alberto Rodriguez served up a huge three and deuce either side of another Bertrand bucket.

The lead swapped hands three more times before the half-time recess, the hosts managing to open up a five-point advantage before Portlaoise responded with seven unanswered points through Phelan and Aleksandar Kovacevic to edged back in front by two points (40-38).

Bertrand got in again to level the tie just 20 seconds into the third quarter, but Phelan had Panthers back in front when he drained a timely effort from downtown.

A seven-point run, all of which came from Anderson, had Panthers back on the front foot and when Kevin Donohoe sank a deuce either side a big shot off the three-point arc, Jack Scully’s men moved 13 points clear.

A Luke Cassidy three, followed by two free-throws and a late floor shot from Rodriguez saw NorthWest reduce their arrears to nine (68-59) by the time the curtain dropped on the third quarter.

But Portlaoise ignited the fourth with a seven-point surge that feature two superb strikes from beyond the arc by Kovacevic and Phelan, the latter also picking up a bonus point from the free-throw line.

The home side continued to battle hard though, and when Rodriquez and Shane Malone book-ended Mutemasango’s deuce with a three apiece, they had it back to seven with almost six minutes left on the clock.

But the North Conference winners stepped on the gas again, serving up eight unanswered points as Phelan hurt the hosts from the three-point arc, perimeter and free-throw line, while Anderson also capitalised on a nice Jayden Umeh assist to help put this game to bed.

Next up for Portlaoise is the visit of Maigh Cuilinn to St Mary’s Hall next Saturday night, and Scully is anticipating another huge challenge from their Galway rivals whom they edged out by just two points in the opening round of the President’s National Cup back in November.

“That’s going to be a tough game,” insisted the Portlaoise boss. “Maigh Cuilinn are fighting for play-offs still, so they’re going to come ready to play.

“If the cup game that we played them in is anything to go by, it should be a cracker, but we’re looking forward to it and looking forward to getting back to St. Mary’s Hall.” TEAM NORTHWEST: Shane Malone, Luke Cassidy, Darragh Scott, Isaac O’Neill, Tyler Mutemasango, Alberto Valiente Rodriquez, Sean McGettrick, Shakeil Bertrand.

Top Scorers: Shakeil Bertrand (33), Alberto Valiente Rodriquez (17), Tyler Mutemasango (14), Luke Cassidy (14).

ND AUDIT PORTLAOISE PANTHERS: James Phelan, Eric Anderson, Davin McEvoy, Kevin Donohoe, Jayden Umeh, Aleksandar Kovacevic.

Top Scorers: James Phelan (40), Eric Anderson (22), Davin McEvoy (12), Kevin Donohoe (12).