Wildcats U14’s won the All-Ireland Club Championship

Wildcats U14 ; Leah Dunphy, Shannon Marshall, Tara Freeman, Ardiana Shalleyi, Bronagh Higgins, Sarah Hickey, Kellie Raethorn, Illiana Fitzgerald, Aoife Grant, Laura Kennedy, Caoimhe McGrath, Grace O’Brien.

Wildcats U16’s, coached by Jillian Hayes and Catherine Ryan got their challenge off to a winning start with a 47-29 points win over Anderstown Tigers.
Wildcats were well in command after the first quarter and by half-time had built a 26-12 lead.
The third quarter was much closer but Wildcats pulled away again in the final quarter to win by 18 points. Bami Olikaydeo and Debbie Ogayami scored 12 points apiece while Robyn Morrissey added eight points.
Fr Matthews were the opposition in the second pool game, a team that had beaten Wildcats in the league and cup. However the defence were outstanding as Wildcats pulled off a 12 points win. Leading 26-20 at the half-time break, Wildcats continued to hold their opponents at bay in the second half to win 43-31.
The semi-final against St Mary’s Castleisland resulted in another good win for Wildcats. With her team leading by 30 points to 12 at half-time, coach Jillian Hayes was able to rest players while all squad members got a run in the game. 12 players were on the scoresheet in the game where Robyn Morrissey was top scorer with 16 points in a 45-23 win.
Wildcats continued their form into the final against Dublin side Liffey Celtics and led by three points at half-time (21-18). However tiredness seemed to set in after the break as the offence found scores difficult to come by. Wildcats only managed six points in the entire second half and although the defence worked tirelessly to keep the score down, Celtics fired 15 second half points to win by 33 points to 27.

Wildcats U16; Abby Flynn, Ciara Butler, Kate Hickey, Grainne Brown, Robyn Morrisey, Anna Grogan, Bami Olukayode, Eva Daniels, Meagan Waring, Sarah Jacob, Debbie Ogayemi, Rachael Fitzgerald.

Mercy win First Year A Final
In Kiltimagh, Co Mayo last weekend Mercy first years won the ‘A’ all-Ireland Schools final with a 33 points to 22 win over Mercy Sligo.
All players are members of the Wildacts U14 team that won the club All-Ireland

Maxol WIT Wildcat’s DeLacy Anderson goes down the inside of DCU’s Sarah Fairbanks

WIT Wildcats 49
DCU 57

Maxol WIT Wildcats threw away a 17 points lead as they succumbed to a painful loss to DCU at the Mercy Gym last Saturday night.

Leading by 17 points with as many minutes remaining in the game, Wildcats simply disintegrated and gifted a game they should have won to the visitors.

In the early stages Wildcats looked by far the stronger team and seemed to be able to score at will.

Maxol WIT Wildcat’s DeLacy Anderson tries to cut down the inside of DCU’s Sarah Fairbanks

DCU gradually clawed their way back into the game, mainly through the excellent Sarah scorer Fairbanks who finished as top scorer on 27 points.

But in spite of her qualities, Wildcats went to the break with a comfortable 15 point cushion with Stephanie O’ Shea and Cathy Kavanagh the main scorers.

It looked like a comfortable Wildcats win was on the cards when the home side stretched their advantage to 17 points.

However with just over seven minutes to the end of the third quarter the Wildcats challenge fell apart as DCU stood solid in defence and could hardly miss offensively while Wildcats missed so many good opportunities it was difficult to watch.

Maxol WIT Wildcat’s Brittney Dunbar is determined to drive past DCU’s Nicole Clancy.

By the beginning of the final quarter the Wildcats lead had been reduced to just two points and in spite of a three pointer from Sinead Deegan and a couple of baskets from the battling Britteny Dunbar it simply wasn’t enough as DCU finished in style to take the honours 49-57.

Wildcats now go into the Christmas break in a confused state of mind wondering what went wrong.

The Wildcats coaches and players know they will have to sort out the problem quickly if they are to be part of the Super League play off which will be played on their own door step in the new WIT SPORTS ARENA next March.

Maxol WIT Wildcat’s Cathy Kavanagh only has one thing on her mind as she is faced by DCU’s Rachel Hudsdens.

Maxol WIT Wildcat’s Mel Stone slows things down as she eyes up her passing options

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WIT Wildcats 66
Brunell (Cork) 47

Maxol WIT Wildcats recovered from their disappointing defeat away to Liffey Celtics with a another stylish performance at home where they accounted for Cork City side Brunell on a 66-47 points scoreline at the Mercy Gym on Saturday night last.

Maxol WIT Wildcats Brittney Dunbar cuts down the inside on her way to scoring a great basket for her side.

Wildcats raced into an early lead with the first four baskets of the game and from that point on it was comfortable for the home side all the way to the finish.

Wildcats had built a 23 points lead (42-19) at the halfway stage mainly through quality inside and outside baskets from Steph O’ Shea, who finished the game as top scorer with 22 points. As the game progressed, Wildcats coaches were able to try different combinations of players which included Aoife Brett and Mel Stone, who added to the teams total with well-timed scores that kept sufficient distance between the teams on the score board.

Brunell’s Lauren Falvey was unable to stop . Maxol WIT Wildcats Brittney Dunbar from scoring.

Brunell did close the gap at one point but more scores from Cathy Kavanagh and Brittany Dunbar left Wildcats with 19 points to spare at the final buzzer. WIT Wildcats now move to joint second on the Superleague table behind unbeaten Glanmire who provide
the opposition this Saturday in the National Cup.

UP FOR THE CUP
It’s been some time since Wildcats had a cup quarter final at home and they don’t come any tougher than this Saturday when the reigning champions come to the Mercy sports hall.
Glanmire have made this cup competition their own having won the coveted event a record number of times in recent years, and while Wildcats showed themselves to be a match for most this season, they will have to raise their game even higher if they are to progress to the cup semi-finals. Glanmire have won all of their seven superleague games this season so far and Wildcats have been the only team to run them close when beaten by six points in Cork six weeks ago.
Now with home advantage and their faithful supporters behind them, Wildcats must have a serious chance of toppling the champions in what could prove to be the game of the season. Certainly Glanmire’s coach Mark Scannell is not taking anything for granted as he was present at the Mercy sports hall last Saturday to see Wildcats win four from four at home. With a packed house expected, supporters are asked to be early for a 7pm tip off.

Maxol WIT Wildcats captain Sinead Deegan about to score for her side

Underage
It was also a busy weekend for the Wildcats underage teams. The U14’s and U16 teams recorded two very good wins over Cork side, St. Anthony’s in the Cork league, and also took the win over close rivals, Brunell in the U13 fixture on Sunday in the Mercy Sports Hall.
The Wildcats U14 team lost out to a very strong Brunell side in what was a close encounter and the U18 team, despite having recorded some great wins to get to the National Cup quarter final, lost out to Glanmire in a tough match in Cork on Sunday afternoon.

Maxol WIT Wildcats Cathy Kavanagh scores again for her side

Wildcats coach will be hoping his side can recover for last weeekend’s heavy defeat when they take on Brunell on Saturday next

Maxol WIT Wildcats suffered their heaviest loss for some time when they were defeated by 28 points away to Liffey Celtics last Saturday night. Wildcats former favourite Jazmen Boone inflicted most of the damage as she finished the game as top scorer in a 78-50 points win for the home side.

Wildcats were never in this game and will be hoping for a huge improvement when they face into the first of three consecutive home games on Saturday night next.

Wildcats’ impressive home record reads three wins from three games but they will have to be at their best to maintain that run when they take on Brunell of Cork on Saturday.

The Cork city side were well fancied as league winning contenders this season, but injuries in pre- season games to their two international players and their excellent Canadian player proved costly so they now find themselves playing catch up on the leaders. With all players back to full health, Wildcats know what is coming at them and they must be totally prepared if they are to get back into the frame for the title that has eluded them for far too many years now.

It’s time for the ” Pride of the South-East ” to shake off the blues of last weekend and give their faithful supporters plenty to shout about this Saturday when the game gets under way at the Mercy Gym at 7pm.
Next weekend’s game is followed by a cup quarter final against reigning champions Glanmire and then another difficult clash with DCU, the reigning Superleague champions.

Maxol WIT Wildcats Helena Rohan is too fast for Meteors Monet Neal

Maxol WIT Wildcats continued their winning ways with a hard fought 55 to 44 points victory over Dublin Meteors at the Mercy Sports Hall last Saturday night.

Possibly not the best game one could wish to see but it was Wildcats first game in three weeks. For a long spell in this game the lack of game practice was obvious as Meteors raced in to a 10 – 2 lead after four minutes.

The Dubliners were really up for it while Wildcats struggled to find their normal rhythm. After eight minutes Meteors led by 10 before a coast to coast lay–up and a last gasp three pointer from Brittany Dunbar eased the concern of anxious Wildcats supporters leaving the Dubliners with a 14-9 advantage at the end of the first quarter . By this stage, Wildcats had not won a single rebound on their own boards in spite of having the three tallest players on the court. Meteors American Monet Reid was simply awesome pulling down every breaking ball while her teammates did an excellent job boxing out.

Brittany Dunbar (Maxol WIT Wildcats) goes on the outside of Meteors Eimear Martin.

Wildcats came more into the game in the second quarter with Steph O’Shea finding her range with three consecutive baskets which gave her team a slight advantage.
But just then Meteors point guard Eimear Martin found herself with all the time and space required to hit three three-pointers on the trot to give the visitors a five point lead. As the quarter fizzled out Wildcats captain Sinead Deegan penetrated to make two before a din of noise greeted her amazing three pointer which left the game all square 28-28 going to the break.

The third quarter had scarcely started when Meteors were four points to the good. Two baskets from Helena Rohan levelled the game as Wildcats began to find their rhythm.

Maxol WIT Wildcats Cathy Kavanagh heading for another score for her side.

Brittnany Dunbar hit a three pointer which was followed by two of the same from Mel Stone. Meanwhile Meteors made several trips to the free throw line but failed to convert making only two from ten which proved costly as Wildcats led 43-32 with the final quarter to play.

One worry for Wildcats facing into the last 10 minutes was that coach Michael Evans was forced to withdraw Sinead Deegan as she was in foul trouble. However there was no need for panic as Cathy Kavanagh made a couple of sweet baskets from the elbow before some quality finishing from DaLacy Anderson put the game out of reach for the visitors.

In fact Anderson worked tirelessly throughout the game getting into excellent scoring positions and scored eight of her 12 points in that last quarter.

Maxol WIT Wildcats coach Michael Evans instructing his team during their win over Meteors last Saturday night.

The victory leaves Wildcats in joint second in the Superleague with Liffey Celtics, who they play this Saturday night.

The Kildare side have home advantage but more interesting is that last year’s Superleague player of the year Jazmen Boone who was such an influential player for Wildcats last season is playing with Celtics this year.

Brittany Dunbar (Maxol WIT Wildcats) drives towards the Meteors half.

No doubt she will welcome her former teamates but knowing ‘JAZZ’ she will want nothing but victory. At the same time, Wildcats will be well up for this encounter knowing a win will keep them well in touch for silverware. On November 26th Wildcats play Cork city side BRUNELL in the first of three consecutive home games.

A rare basketball treat comes to town this Saturday evening April 30th when the Irish senior women’s team take on team USA. The American team are Victory Scholars from the Sport Changes Life (SCL) programme. Regular basketball supporters will be well aware of these talented SCL students who have enhanced our national leagues over recent years.
This season Maxol WIT Wildcats were so fortunate to have the services of both Jazmen Boone and Katie Fox from the SCL programme supported by WIT.
Wildcats supporters have simply fallen in love with these two players not just because they are great basketball players but also because of the amount of time they give to the community with social work and teaching young players the skills of the game.
Jazmen and Katie also played a massive part in WIT winning both the college league and the varsity championship for the very first time. No doubt there will be tears in the Wildcats camp when they depart in early May.
So here is a great opportunity to see both ladies play for the last time in Waterford as they are joined by many of their very talented fellow SCL scholars to form what looks like a very impressive USA team.
Facing them will be “the best of the Irish” which includes two of our own Maxol WIT Wildcats – team captain Sinead Deegan and Helena Rohan.
This will be a really special occasion, particularly for the two Wildcats players who will represent Ireland on their home court at the Mercy Sports Hall – the same hall where they learned the game when they were secondary school students at the Mercy Secondary school..
Ireland will be coached by Mark Scanell who needs no introduction as he is the most successful Irish coach in recent times, guiding Glanmire (Cork) to league and cup success.
Indeed there will be a number of the Glanmire side in action for what looks like possibly the best Irish team for some time. Tip off at the Mercy Sports Hall is 6pm – Entry for Adults €5 and Children just €2.
All proceeds go to the Irish team to help them fund their costs in the upcoming small Nations Championship this summer. A packed house is expected so be early to be sure of entry.

WIT 63
CIT 59

WIT ladies basketball team upset favourites CIT to win the All-Ireland Colleges Ladies ‘A’ final at the National Basketball Arena last week.
The Waterford side’s only previous success in colleges basketball was a division two title in 2006.
Having defeated reigned champions Trinity College in their semi-final WIT expected a tough battle with the Leesiders in the final and they were not disappointed!
The match was a thrilling encounter streamed live on the internet by Basketball Ireland.
WIT started strongly led by American duo Katie Fox and Jazmen Boone. Boone in particular held major sway in the first quarter ably assisted by Marie Micoud and WIT went in at the end with a ten point lead.
However the Cork Ladies, coached by Irish International Ladies coach Mark Scannell, roared back into contention to lead by one point at half time 29-30 despite valiant efforts by local Wildcats player Ciara Twomey to steady the faltering WIT ship.
WIT Coach Jim Dudley introduced local talent Yvonne Corcoran into the fray in the third quarter and she repaid his faith by sinking a huge three pointer from way downtown to help see WIT into a one point lead at the end of the third quarter.
Aoife Brett and Cliona Mairtin made huge contributions in defence in this quarter.
The lead constantly shifted during the third quarter with never more than three points between the teams.
With just a minute left Wildcats star and Victory Scholar Jazmen Boone pulled down a rebound and having run the length of the court was fouled when she attempted to score. The resultant points gave WIT a two point cushion with 25 seconds remaining.

WIT Ladies celebrate their success in the Colleges ‘A’ Basketball Final.

WIT: Katie Fox 7, Jazmen Boone 34, Aoife Brett 2, Marie Micoud 8, Cliona Martin. Rachel Taheny, Yvonne Corcoran 7,Chloe Morrissey, Jane Crowley, Claire Manning, Ciara Twomey 4, Laura Heffernan.

De La Salle Waterford 54
St. Malachy’s Belfast 29

De La Salle’s U19’s celebrate their League Final success

Big jump for another score from Ryan Pepper Photo: Colm Dunphy

Captain Daniel Sheehan collects his gold medal Photo: Colm Dunphy

ST MALACHY’S, Belfast: Ethan Gibson 11, Eamon McKeown 2, Brendan Stewart 2, Michael McWilliams 4, Ruari McGinn. Substitutes: Dara McGinn, Paul Owens 4, Hans Abrahams 2, John Moran 4.

The victory for the U19’s made up somewhat for the disappointing defeat for the u16’s who lost narrowly to St Aidan’s. The team that won the All-Ireland Cup a few weeks never seemed to get into their stride but nevertheless put in a brave effort in an attempt to secure the double. They came up just short on a 45-41 scoreline.

Helena Rohan (Maxol WIT Wildcats) scores one of many of her long range shots on Saturday night last.

MAXOL WIT Wildcats finished the regular season with a comfortable win over UL Huskies last Saturday evening in the Mercy Sports Hall.
Wildcats bounced back from a poor performance last weekend at home to Killester, to put in a solid display leading the Limerick side from tip-off to the final buzzer.

Katie Fox (Maxol WIT Wildcats) gets through the heart of the UL Huskies defence.

Ruthie Leavey (Maxol WIT Wildcats) is faced by UL Huskies Kelsey Harris

DCU Mercy 56
Maxol WIT Wildcats 77

Maxol WIT Wildcats tore up the formbook when they blitzed champions elect DCU in the capital last Sunday evening.
Dublin City University, who were on a 12 game winning streak and are top of the premier league, were expected to continue their winning ways. Despite home advantage and taking an early four point lead, DCU could never extend their advantage as Wildcats stayed in touch to leave just a basket between the sides at the halfway stage.
As the game progressed Wildcats edged in front with Jazmen Boone and Cathy Kavanagh totally dominating the boards winning rebound after rebound at both ends of the court.
The same pair were also notching up basket after basket to give Wildcats a 10-point lead heading into the final quarter.
The large contingent of travelling supporters were ecstatic with the Wildcats’ performance but all expected DCU to come out with all guns blazing for the remaining 10 minutes.

: Wildcats were in superb form last Sunday when they defeated league leaders DCU Mercy

Playoffs

Maxol WIT Wildcats have now worked their way into the top four with two games remaining in the regular season.
Both games are at home over the next two Saturdays as Wildcats play host to Killester and University of Limerick.
This Saturday at 7pm in the Mercy Sports Hall Wildcats face Dublin northsiders Killester who are in second place in the league table. The most recent meeting between these teams back in mid January was the national cup semi-final where the Dubliners took the spoils back. Wildcats have hit a rocky patch since then, mainly due to injuries to Sinead Deegan and Katie fox. In spite of both players not being on hundred per cent last Sunday’s performance proves they may be just right in time for this crucial encounter. While Wildcats have amassed enough points for a quarter final spot should they win both home games they would have home advantage for their quarter final. Wildcats supporters would just love that to happen and that is why the Mercy Sports hall will surely be packed this Saturday night.

U18s through to semi -final

Wildcats under U18 team traveled to Dublin to play Oblate Dynamos in the quarter final of the national shield last weekend and came away victorious 38-52. Annie Fanning was back to her best scoring 20 points as part of superb display by the point guard. Sarah Whelan was also in tremendous form finishing as the games top scorer with 24 points. Wildcats U18’s are back in Dublin this weekend for the semi final where Tolka Rovers are the opposition. Wildcats U12 and U14 were also in action with friendly games against Oblate Dynamos last Sunday. Although the opposition were slightly older in both games they proved excellent preparation for vital upcoming games – Wildcats U12s were edged out by just four points and the U14 side were victorious by five points.