southsports

Shane Larkin Makes Fenerbahce Debut in Narrow Turkish League Victory Shane Larkin officially began his Fenerbahce career on Sunday, making his first competitive appearance for the Turkish powerhouse in a dramatic 85-84 victory over Biotekno Korfez Basket. The experienced guard had been waiting for his opportunity after joining Fenerbahce during the summer following an eight-year spell with Anadolu Efes. He was included in the squad for the previous league match but did not take the court. This time, he finally made his debut. Larkin spent 16 minutes and 46 seconds on the floor during his first appearance in the yellow-and-navy uniform. His numbers were modest as he worked his way back into competitive action, finishing with three points and one rebound. The 34-year-old guard made one of his three attempts from beyond the arc, while going 0-for-3 on two-point attempts and 0-for-2 from the free-throw line. His first points for Fenerbahce came from a three-pointer. Despite Larkin's limited scoring contribution, Fenerbahce managed to secure its first Turkish Super League victory of the season. The hosts controlled much of the game but were forced to withstand a late comeback from Korfez Basket. Fenerbahce led 25-18 after the opening quarter and extended the advantage to 33-23 early in the second period. Korfez responded before halftime, reducing the deficit to just one point at 45-44. The home side appeared to regain control in the third quarter, entering the final period with a 68-55 advantage. However, Korfez refused to give up and produced a dramatic finish. With just 40 seconds remaining, Davis hit a three-pointer that brought Korfez within a single point at 85-84. Fenerbahce then missed an opportunity to extend its lead, leaving the visitors with one final chance to complete the comeback. After securing a defensive rebound with 11 seconds left, Barna attempted to finish with a layup but could not convert. Fenerbahce held on to claim the narrow victory. T.J. Horton-Tucker was the leading scorer for Fenerbahce, producing 22 points, while Johnny Juzang added 21. Juzang was particularly efficient from long range, making all three of his three-point attempts. Onuralp Bitim contributed 13 points. Larkin's arrival represents a significant addition for Fenerbahce. The American guard spent the 2018-2026 period with Anadolu Efes before making the move to the Istanbul rivals this summer. Fenerbahce confirmed a two-year contract with the veteran in July. His debut also came after a period away from the court because of injury, making the first appearance more about regaining rhythm than producing a huge statistical performance. Fenerbahce will hope Larkin can gradually increase his workload as he returns to full competitive sharpness. The team has a demanding schedule ahead, including EuroLeague action and another Turkish League fixture. The Istanbul club's next EuroLeague challenge will come against Panathinaikos on October 8, before returning to domestic competition against Glint Cayırova Belediyesi two days later. For now, the most important development is that Larkin is back on the court and officially wearing the Fenerbahce jersey. His first outing produced only three points, but the narrow victory gave the club a positive start to his competitive chapter in Istanbul.