Munster Express Online

Under 16 A Schools League Final

Mercy just pipped for title

Presentation Castleisland 41Mercy Waterford 39

Presentation Castleisland will be taking the Under 16 A League title back to Kerry after a humdinger against Munster Rivals Mercy Waterford at the National Basketball Arena on Monday.

The game was an exciting and tense affair with both sides fighting tooth and nail to lay claim to the title of ‘League Champions 2007’.

Most Valuable Player Award winner Philomena O’Connor was in sparkling form for the Kerry Women and was instrumental throughout the encounter with valuable scores, blocks and steals.

Captain Miriam Leane got the ball rolling in the first quarter as a free throw and a basket were converted to put Castleisland into a 3-point lead.

Mercy duly responded with Sinead Deegan and Trish Jackman scoring to level the game at 6-6 midway through the quarter.

Scoring remained tit-for-tat until Jackman converted two free throws and another basket to ensure Mercy lead at the end of the first quarter, 10-14.

Castleisland flew out of the traps in the second quarter and were soon level-pegging with scores from Philomena O’Connor and Mary Herlihy.

However, Mercy powered back into the lead with a string of scores from Stephanie O’Shea to give Mercy a 17-21 lead at the half-time break.

In the opening stages of the third quarter Mercy continued to pile on the pressure and were soon six points clear of Castleisland (19-25) thanks to the scoring prowess of Trish Jackman.

Presentation Castleisland responded swiftly and were soon back on level terms thanks to scores from Louise O’Connor and edged in front after Danielle McLoughlin found the basket.

However, Stephanie O’Shea’s score in the closing seconds to level the score at the end of the third quarter at 30-30 and set the game up for a grandstand finish.

A grandstand finish is what the fantastic travelling support received as Mercy continued to push the scoring bar and were soon enjoying a four point cushion.

But, Castleisland certainly had their rivals firmly within their crosshairs and were a point ahead  once again after a Miriam Leane basket followed by a Louise O’Connor two point score and free throw conversion.

The girls from the Kingdom were a single point ahead but Tracy Power stepped up to restore order for Mercy with a superb three-point score, which lifted the crowds off their feet and put Mercy two points ahead.

Mary Herlihy drew the sides level once again with less than two minutes remaining and a single free throw by Danielle McLoughlin  gifted Castleisland the slenderest of leads (40-39)

Herlihy added a second free throw conversion in the dying moments to confirm Presentation Castleisland as Champions, running out 41-39 winners.

Top Scorers

Presentation Castleisland: Mary Herlihy 13, Philomena O’Connor 10, Miriam Leane 10.

Mercy Waterford: Trish Jackman 13, Stephanie O’Shea 10, Sinead Deegan 7.

Wildcats inSuperleagueSemi-Final

Bausch & Lomb wildcats face Dublin city University in Basketball Ireland’s Superleague semi-final in the capital next Monday 19th at 3.30pm.

Prior to this event UL have home advantage on St.Patrick’s Day in the other semi against Dart Killester.

But it is the DCU/Wildcats clash that has caught the attention of Ireland’s basketball folk as at the start of the season the Dublin outfit in most people’s eyes looked unbeatable with a gathering of most of the country’s top players representing the University. Yet in the regular three round season, wildcats came out best in two of their three encounters. Both of those wins were at home after a heavy loss in the first clash in Dublin.

Concern

Wildcats will hope to be at full strength on the day, that is if Michelle Aspell, who suffered a nasty injury to her ankle in Wildcats’ final regular season game recovers in time. A week has passed since and she has not been able to do any training as the ankle is still very sore but constant physic and with a little help from the man above it may prove enough to have the talented player ready for battle come Monday next.

Wildcats 72 Glanmire 66

In the last game of the regular season Bausch & Lomb Wildcats got the better of National cup holders and reigning Superleague champions Glanmire, in a gripping encounter in Little Island last Tuesday night. The Cork outfit started like they were going to put the game out of reach for Wildcats by half time as they raced into a 17-6 lead after seven minutes with Wildcats who had already qualified for the semi-final play offs the previous weekend playing like the game didn’t matter. Not only were they well behind on the scoreboard but also in serious foul trouble with American Crystal Coston on three fouls at this stage due to some poor refereeing. Moments later Michelle Aspell picked up her second and not to be left out Jennifer Maher and Graine Dwyer also picked up two fouls each prior to the end of the first quarter. At this point one wondered would Wildcats have enough players to finish the game if the referee continued to be whistle happy. Trailing 23-12 going into the second quarter, a cloud of calm came over the Wildcats outfit and gradually we saw the team capable of winning the championship get their act together as the introduction of Jillian Hayes brought a steadying influence to the B&L side who still trailed 31-38 at the break but looked like they had the measure of their opponents as time went on.

Level Pegging

Into the third quarter and gradually Wildcats ground down the reigning champions with Crystal Coston a powerhouse in the post position totalling 23 points, well supported by Graine Dwyer who was much to the delight of her teammates, performing her best contribution of the season and had amassed 18 points by the end of the third quarter. Team Captain Olivia O’Reilly hit a huge three-pointer to make it level pegging (53-53) with the final period to be played.

Hanging On

The final phase had scarcely started when Crystal Coston picked up her fourth foul and a little later Aspell and O’Reilly were in the same boat. With three players on four fouls and eight and a half minutes to play, things looked bad for Wildcats who were trading scores with Glanmire and kept in touch trailing by a single point with five minutes left. Then as if things could not get worse Michelle Aspell lay in the court in pain grasping her ankle after a four player collision as the game got out of control and with the referee’s losing control. Aspell had to be carried off for attention and the game proceeded into the last three minutes with the Waterford side up two thanks to Graine Dwyer’s steal and lay up. Then the same player in an effort to steal again fouled and had to leave the game as she had five fouls. One expected the home side to go on and dictate in the final minutes but it was Wildcats who held solid and late baskets from Maher, Hayes and Coston gave Wildcats a deserved victory even if they had many crazy spells throughout the game.

This hard fought win ill add to their confidence as they prepare for this Monday’ semi-final and then fingers crossed its on to Limerick on Sunday 25th March for the Superleague final in the UL arena against UL or Dart Killester.