Wolves girls bounce back after heartbreaking defeat

IN a busy six-day period Drogheda Wolves’ Under-18 girls team played three games and came out with two convincing wins and a defeat by the narrowest of margins.

First up last Tuesday was the visit of Cavan Eagles in the topof-the-table clash in Drogheda and this was a game Wolves had to win to have a chance of getting their hands on the league trophy.

However, Eagles controlled the game for all but three minutes of play despite a fine scoring performance from Wolves captain Kate Kelly with 21 points.

Eagles led by nine points at half-time and by 10 going into the final quarter, but it was late in that last period that Wolves came back strongly and narrowed the gap to a single point - 43-42 - which is how it finished.

The result means that Eagles are champions elect with just two games remaining.

Next up was the visit of Carrick who met a Wolves team in fine scoring form as the Drogheda

girls piled on the baskets.

Ava Prendergast, Nikola Busa, Ome Esajobor and Ava Briscoe all scored in double digits for Wolves, who led 46-24 at half-time.

Zoe Gardiner and Ava Russell got in on the scoring act too as the hosts pushed out to a 56-35 scoreline going into the last quarter, and in the latter stages baskets from Abby Rice and Ciara Ni Criosta took Wolves’ total to 77 points - to Carrick’s 43.

The final part of the triple header was the visit to Dungannon to face Tyrone Towers where once again Wolves were in fast-breaking mode and led 15-7 after the first quarter, with Nikola Busa leading the way.

Ava Prendergast totalled 19 points, with Ciara Ni Criosta on her shoulder with 17.

By half-time Wolves were up by 15 points and they led by 30 going into the last quarter, with strong rebounding by Ome Esajobor and great team defence.

In the end it was a comfortable 53-34 win for Wolves who next face Dunshauglin this Saturday in DIFE, with a 2.30pm tip-off.