Neptune basketballers sunk in crunch Super League relegation clash with Killorglin by late three
Ex-Neptune player Jordon Blount sets up the match winning score for Killorglin against Energywise Ireland Neptune at Neptune Stadium, Cork. Picture: Larry Cummins
Heartbreak for Neptune in their relegation battle at the death as a three-pointer from Killorglin’s Bulgarian ace Emilyan Grudov snatched a crucial win in this Domino’s Men’s Super League clash at Neptune Stadium on Sunday.
In a tense encounter from start to finish, Neptune lost their second game in less than 24 hours in cruel fashion, after going down to Killester after overtime on Saturday, 105-95.
Killorglin knew a defeat could harm them big time in the relegation struggle but with Neptune failing to inbound the ball in the closing seconds, they pounced to punish them at the death.
It only took Echezona Okeeke 12 seconds to draw a foul and execute a brace of free throws for the visitors, only for Eoin Nelson to respond with a basket and bonus. Killorglin were playing zone defence and Nelson continued to give them problems at the post.
Former Neptune ace Jordan Blount had a quiet opening three minutes, but he stepped up to the plate by nailing consecutive three-pointers that gave his side a 14-8 lead in the fourth minute.
On the next Killorglin possession, Okeke finished a superb drive to the hoop and suddenly it was an eight-point lead as Neptune decided they needed a time-out.
Both sides traded three-pointers but Neptune found another gear to reduce the deficit to four points. Some of the defence played by both teams was slack with players from both sides getting easy and clear looks to the hoop.
In the closing minute, both teams had opportunities but to no avail as Killorgin commanded a 26-21 lead entering the second quarter.
Mike Hayes drained a shot outside the paint as Neptune now looked a side in ascendancy and a resurgent Nil Sabata had the sides level in the 12th minute. We then witnessed a flash of brilliance from Sabata when assisting a magnificent pass to Hayes who duly finished with a lay-up.
The game got scrappy for a couple of minutes with both sides shooting and passing options bordering on the ridiculous. A slammer from Marques Ellis gave Killorglin a 41-39 lead with 1.58 remaining on the clock, only for Sabata to bring the sides on parity with a nice floater.
Sabata had two free throws with eight seconds remaining when Killorgin called a time-out but only made one as the Kerry outfit went in at the break commanding a 44-42 lead.
The half-time stats made interesting reading for Neptune with 7/19 inside the paint and (37%) and an impressive 8/13 outside the arc for a 62% average.
On the restart, both teams continued with silly shooting options before Killorgoin got a grip with five unanswered points.
On the next possession, a spin move Hayes had the home crowd in rapture, but the athleticism of Ellis was posing Neptune problems and four minutes into the quarter Neptune trailed 53-44.
Kelvin O’Donoghue then came off the bench to drain a three-pointer and suddenly it was a four-point game with the home supporters sensing a major revival. O’Donoghue was then ejected from the game for his second technical foul and can have few excuses as referees don’t usually change decisions.
In the closing minute, Neptune came storming back but it was Killorglin who took a three-point lead into the final quarter: 64-61.
Coming down the stretch, we witnessed a real dogfight and with victory in sight for Neptune, a careless turnover spoiled the party as Grudov punished them with a dagger.
A Gregorio 16, M Hayes 15, S Henderson 14, N Sabata 11.
J Echezonachukwu 22, M Letcher-Ellis 19, J Blount 16, E Grudov 14.
M Hayes, K O’Donoghue, S Henderson R Downey, N Power, E Lenihan, A Heaphy, E Nelson, A Gregorio, D O’Rourke, N Sabata, J Scannell.
E Evans, E Bolger, A Fitzgerald, R Graham, R Ghanem, D Wall, P Lanipekun, E Grudov, J Echezonachukwu, J Blount, L Croke, C Buckley, M Letcher-Ellis.
J Dooley (Portlaoise), J Malaysko (Portlaoise), A Kiernan (Dublin).
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