Team Tom McCarthys lose out in overtime

WOMEN’S NATIONAL LEAGUE DIVISION ONE

Phoenix Rockets 74 Team Tom McCarthy’s 70

TEAM Tom McCarthy’s St. Mary’s suffered their second loss of the season in what was possibly their most challenging game to date. The St. Mary’s team travelled to Belfast where they faced Phoenix Rockets in a cross conference game that went to overtime.

Rockets had a big opening quarter from Charisse Williams, Kayonna Lee and Charley McGrath. For St. Mary’s it was Emma Sherwood, Denise Dunlea and Loretta Maher who kept their side in touch with Maher hitting the opening score of the game. The quarter finished 21 points to eighteen in favour of Rockets.

The Belfast side kept the upper hand in the second period, going nine ahead by the half time interval although mid way through just a point separated the sides, Loretta Maher being the biggest threat to the opposition. A three from Eimhear Morris through was instrumental while Lee was still a threat to the St. Mary’s side. Dunlea and Sherwood kept the pressure on for the Castleisland girls.

The game turned around in the third quarter, Rockets did take the opening score and St. Mary’s missed some opportunities but Lorraine Scanlon was becoming a real threat inside now and a much needed three from Deirdre Geaney resulted in Team Tom McCarthy’s taking the quarter by four to reduce the gap to just five points going into the final period.

The Castleisland girls had reduced the gap to the minimum just a minute into the final quarter. Midway through Rockets held a three point lead and the sides traded scores as the quarter progressed. Team Tom McCarthy’s took a seven point lead, scores coming from Deirdre Geaney, Miriam Leane, Scanlon and Maher and it was looking good with less than a minute to play when Rockets hit two threes in succession and a basket with two seconds to go to send the game to overtime.

The sides exchanged scores in the early part of the extra period but accuracy from the free throw line secured the win for the Northern conference side.

Top scorers

Phoenix Rockets: Kayonna Lee 25, Eimhear Morris 11 and Charisse Williams 10

Team Tom McCar thy’s: Lorraine Scanlon 20, Loretta Maher 18, Denise Dunlea 13