Conor Meany: What is happening to Neptune?
Ethan McKeon of Killester shoots and score against Tralee Warriors
Neptune are always a big story in Irish basketball, and their current struggles continue to be the storyline for a team with plenty of Irish talent. On Saturday they trailed as many as 39 to UCD Marian and at times they looked dreadful. It’s never a good sign when coaches are having to shout at their players to get back on defense after a turnover, but that’s what was happening in UCD.
Last year was a similar disappointment, so what has gone wrong? This season, I think they’ve got their Americans absolutely wrong. Chance Hunter is a good player, while Jahmal Wright hasn’t lit the world on fire since arriving. The problem is though that the two players don’t help their Irish players at all.
Roy Downey and Conor O’Sullivan are both very good players and can shoot the ball, but they are both also shooting guards being asked to share point guard responsibilities. With Darragh O’Sullivan and Cian Heaphy, Neptune have two more capable wings, particularly when Heaphy is healthy. So why have Neptune opted to bring in two wing Americans, neither of whom are great shooters?
The lack of floor spacing becomes a bigger problem when you consider that neither of their two Europeans Nils Sabata and Jaksa Sola are prolific shooters either. An athletic big man and a point guard would compliment this group so much more than what they currently have and could unlock their Irish talent. It’s hard to see how Neptune can change course and be a factor in the playoffs unless a change is made.
Fr Mathew’s Arena has become a tough place for league challengers to go as both Killester and Wildcats have lost there in recent weeks. On Saturday, Fr Mathews shot the lights out hitting 18 threes on their way to 108 points. Aisling McCann stole the show hitting 5/5 from deep, while Kyra White added five more of her own.
Gillian Hayes had said pre-Christmas that improvement was needed defensively, and this was another warning sign for Wildcats. With Chelsea Cain in early foul trouble, Wildcats depth was tested, and they just couldn’t get consistent stops as Mathews pushed the pace at every opportunity. The loss brings Wildcats back level with Liffey Celtics on two losses. At 77.5ppg they give up the third highest points per game average in the league.
They have the offense to win games, but they’ll need to improve defensively if they are to finally earn some silverware. Next week’s showdown with Liffey in the cup will be the perfect test for both teams who are stylistically opposite. The winner of that game will not only advance in the Cup but will likely take a psychological lead in the title race.
Killester came into Saturday’s game with revenge on their mind and despite getting a strong second quarter challenge from Tralee, they were comfortable in their 103-93 win in the Complex. Killester started by shooting brilliantly and the only challenge came before halftime when Tralee had some joy against small Killester units, as they attacked them on the boards.
When it mattered in the third quarter, Tralee drove into traffic and turned the ball over and Killester punished them at will. Killester have the ability to drive and kick on offense and create constant open looks, they can do this because they effectively play with four guards on the floor at all times.
Typically, this gets punished on the other end but Killester’s guards, and Paul Dick in particular, do a fantastic job of matching up with bigger opponents. Killester also will be delighted with Baptise Chazelas who was flawless on Saturday with a double double. The big man doesn’t force anything and that he outplayed Killester’s old player Gregario Adon was a bonus for the Dubliners.
UCD Marian have now won five of their last six as they climbed to 7-7 and 6th place in the standings, after two wins in 36 hours over Neptune (116-84) and Belfast Star 96-85. Ioannis Liapakis’ side have found a balance with Lovre Tvrdic, Jon Jean and Tanner Graham leading a balanced attack.
It’s on the defensive end that Marian have improved overall as their pressing as upset numerous teams this season. Heading into the season most would have had pegged Marian for a relegation battle, but Liapakis deserves huge credit for the coaching job he has done so far this season. One central cog to the Marian side in recent weeks is James Connaire whose defense and activity have given the side a huge lift.
Connaire has been on the fringes of the Senior Men’s National Team and he won’t be far off making the team soon, given his impressive defense and athleticism.
For 36 minutes it looked like Sligo were having the perfect preparation in Cork for the Cup Semi Finals next week. Leading 80-73 with three minutes to go, they just needed to close out the game. Instead, two Tom Childs free throw misses kicked off a late game collapse that saw Ballincollig steal the game.
Ciaran O’Sullivan played the hero for the home side winding back the clock to score 14 of his 20 in the fourth quarter, including two late threes, either side of a three from his brother Adrian, to snatch control of the game. Sligo’s inability to execute late will be a big worry, as the moment seemingly got too big for them. With a Cup Semi Final next week, will they be able to execute in the big moments against a Demons team who are very familiar with pressure situations?
They have the talent with some great talent signed this year, but given that they have so few home grown players, do they have the necessary leadership beyond John Carroll when needed. We’ll see.
Earlier in the year, with Hannah Thornton still sitting out, Meteors beat Killester on the boards and upset their neighbours 66-62. This time despite missing Ieva Bagdanaviciene, Killester battled on the boards and with Michele Clarke and Sam Halby combining for 50 they beat Meteors 76-61.
Killester’s defensive pressure forced 14 turnovers and with Meteors making only 6 out of 15 free throws, it was always going to be a tough ask to win in the IWA. It’s three wins in a row for Killester who are just a game behind the league leaders, and with a semi-final against St Paul’s to look forward to, Killester are in a great position to challenge for both trophies.
St Paul’s for their part, come into that semi-final on the back of a 77-59 loss to Glanmire in Cork, where Callie Cavanaugh dominated with 32 points. Paul’s have been inconsistent this season and will need a huge performance next week to upset Killester.
Demons and Eanna both had nice semi-final tune ups with 90-75 and 80-65 wins over Vincents and Maree respectively. Eanna will be particularly happy given they were without Sean Jenkins, while Demons continued with the consistency that eluded them last year.
Demons will be favoured against Sligo next week despite losing to them at home earlier in the year. Eanna will be underdogs against Killester but the defending league champions have the players and experience to beat Killester and showed they can do it in last year’s league final. It should be the game of the weekend.
On the women’s side Liffey Celtics also had good preparation, hammering Portlaoise 81-43. Liffey and Wildcats have been on a collision course for weeks and it’s set up to be a great game next week.
In a couple of weeks, people will ask is the Arena a tough shooting gym, and we can just ask Killorglin’s Clay Ladine who hit ten threes on Saturday in an easy 97-71 win over Templeogue.
It’s the second time in just three games that Ladine has scored ten three pointers which is incredible by itself. Whether the American will be disappointed with just ten is another question given he scored five in the first five minutes of the game and had six in the first quarter!
