Stylish Horans Health Stores lift Cup
THE Kerry Airport Senior Basketball Cup Finals took place last Sunday in Tralee Sports Complex with Horans Health Stores Basketball Club and Athea Vixens battling it out for the Division 3 Ladies cup.
It was a hard-fought battle but the experience of Horans Health Stores ladies shone through and they went on to lift the cup at the final whistle.
The game opened in a whirlwind fashion with a youthful Athea side determined to make youth and pace count by pressuring their opponents and breaking at every opportunity. However the more experienced Horans team played with greater control, and despite the early nerves and some uncharacteristic turnovers, led at first quarter end by 14-10 with Joanne Houlihan and Kitsy Fitzgerald being the chief score getters.
The second quarter belonged to the Lixnaw side, playing superb defence and forcing long range efforts from the Vixens, while creating superb openings for baskets at the other end. Becky Carroll, Myra Kissane, Michelle Lane and Yvonne Stack were to the fore as Horans raced into a 26-15 half time lead.
On the resumption a Vixens change to man to man defence caused problems for Horans and despite early scores from Lane, Stack and Carroll, the Vixens won the quarter 11-10 through some excellent three point shooting and strong rebounding, which reduced the deficit to 6 points after seven minutes.
Karen Slattery, Courtney O Neill and Jacinta Prendergast steadied the ship when introduced, and with Muriel Carroll adding pace and work rate on the floor Horans finished with two late baskets from Houlihan and Carroll to restore a 10 point lead at quarter end.
Horans Health Stores finally settled in the fourth quarter and played their best basketball of the day, controlling the boards, moving the ball quickly and finishing the chances created with aplomb.
Mary Gardner with a superb three, Slattery with two baskets inside, Lane and Carroll opened the gap between them and their opponents.
The impressive Becky Carroll and top scorer Joanne Houlihan piled on the scores and the Lixnaw side finished with a well deserved and hard earned 52-34 points victory over the Vixens. After the game team captain Myra Kissane accepted the Cup on behalf of the team, to the delight of their many supporters present at the Sports Complex.