Panthers’ struggle continues with loss to Lions in National League
Portlaoise Panther's David McEvoy looks for a three-pointer against Dublin Lions Photo: David Maher
EVEN a third-quarter fight back, that saw them reduce their arrears to just three points, was not enough to inspire ND Audit Portlaoise Panthers to a complete recovery, as they lost out to Dublin Lions by eight when the two sides clashed in Division One action in St. Mary’s Hall on Saturday night.
It’s now four straight defeats in the National League, along with an early exit from the National Cup since early-November for Jack Scully’s side, who are all too clearly suffering from the absence of a strong post player since centre, Rich Ashu sustained a season-ending injury against Limerick Sport Eagles last month.
Still, they put up a huge battle against Lions on Saturday, three of their players finishing in double digits, including Mike Wallace on a game-high 21 points, three rebounds and six assists.
Davin McEvoy and Xabi Arriaga, between them, added a further 32 to Panthers side of the scoreboard, but it was not enough to see them prevail against a Lions outfit that was spurred on by Russell Marr and his haul of 18 points, nine boards and six assists.
Aran Lee chipped in with 15 points for the visitors, while there were ten apiece for Kevin Anyanwu and Ignacio Folgueiras, the latter also soaking up 11 rebounds, all but one of them in defence.
Portlaoise found themselves on the backfoot from early on in this game, as their Clondalkin rivals opened up a 10-1 lead in just over three minutes, Lee getting them off the mark before Shareef Elmahi and Anyanwu both drained big threes.
Panthers did manage to string together six unanswered points compliments of Wallace, Arriaga and McEvoy, but the visitors still held a six-point advantage (23-17) by the end of the first quarter, helped no end by two downtown conversions by Folgueiras.
The visitors tightened their grip on this tie in the second quarter, adding a further six points to their lead through Kyria Tembe, Marr and Lee, who got in for an ‘and one’.
Indeed, Panthers required more than five minutes of the second quarter before adding to their tally, when McEvoy picked up two from the free-throw line and then the same amount from the floor.
But the Dublin side kept the scoreboard ticking as Marr, Folgueiras and Anyanwu all converted on the inside, while Tiago Dos Santos Pereira drained a nice three to help see their side take a 13-point cushion (40-27) into the half-time recess.
Panthers needed a big response in the second half, and while McEvoy did drain a much-needed treble in the opening minute of the third, Lions responded with interest, as Elmahi struck from beyond the arc before Lee converted two free throws.
Yet, Jack Scully’s side finally put together the run they needed, picking up nine points without reply as Wallace and McEvoy capitalised fully from their uncontested shots before Arriaga drained a three to close the gap to seven.
That was followed by another seven-point run that featured a Trevor Swayne triple before Wallace registered a three-point play with eight seconds to go in the third, reducing Panthers’ arrears to just three (54-51).
But just when they appeared poised to overtake, Portlaoise conceded the opening five points of the fourth, as Pereira and Marr punished from inside and beyond the arc respectively.
That left eight between the sides, and despite Jayden Umeh draining two efforts from downtown and Wallace and McEvoy each putting up four in the closing minutes, they were unable to reel in their opponents down the stretch.
Dropping to second place in the Division One South Conference behind Maree, Panthers could slip further down the table if Limerick Sport Eagles pick up a win against Killarney Cougars on Saturday.
Dylan Dunne, Michael Wallace, Jayden Umeh, Trevor Swayne, Davin McEvoy, Kevin Donohoe, Xabi Arriaga, Kyle Burke.
Michael Wallace (21), Davin McEvoy (18), Xabi Arriaga (14).
Tiernan Howe, Shareef Elmahi, Harvey Killeen, Neil Kavanagh, Tiago Dos Santos Pereira, Kevin Anyanwu, Aran Lee, Kyria Tembe, Liam Osinuga, Ignacio Folgueiras, Russell Marr.
Russell Marr (18), Aran Lee (15), Kevin Anyanwu (10), Ignacio Folgueiras (10).
