First Years get off to a flyer

TWO nail-biting wins and one defeat was the story of the past week for Our Lady’s College’s basketball teams, with their 1st Year team victorious in their first-ever game.

The action began at the Boyneside venue on Tuesday, when St Mary’s Glasnevin travelled to Drogheda with two teams.

First onto the court were the 2nd Year Junior Premier outfit who faced a Glasnevin side who were unbeaten and top of the table.

A low-scoring first quarter finished 4-4, with Abby Rice and Nikola Busa the providers for the hosts, but Our Lady’s then enjoyed their best spell, scoring seven points without reply to lead 11-4 at the half-way point.

However, the visitors were not giving up their unbeaten record lightly and they battled back in the third to score eight points and leave just four between them 16-12.

In a tight final quarter St Mary’s halved the gap to two points with just 20 seconds remaining, only for Ciara NicCriosta to be awarded two free throws and successfully score one to put three between the sides. This was enough to secure a 23-20 victory for Our Lady’s, with NicCriosta top scorer on 11 points.

The Junior D Division 2 side then took on their St Mary’s counterparts, but with five 1st Year pupils in their squad it was a bridge too far and Our Lady’s were beaten 31-10.

On Friday it was the turn of the 1st Year A team to play their first basketball match. A combination of schools withdrawing before Christmas and timetabling left this team taking to the floor very late in the season.

However, it was a game worth waiting for. St Louis High School made the journey to the Boyneside and the home side led 6-0 at the first break, with Benita Assoua opening her scoring account with four points and Keelin O’Reilly chipping in also.

St Louis got on the scoresheet in the second quarter and by the end of the third the Boynesiders’ lead was a handy one - 12-4.

However, some contentious refereeing decisions then went against Our Lady’s and St Louis fought back, and in the end Katie McCabe and Emily Farrell had to steady the ship to enable the home side hang on for a two-point victory, 16-14.

Ava Briscoe 4pts; Nikola Busa 3; Ruby Matthews; Greta McEvoy 1; Ciara NicCriosta 11; Abby Rice 4; Ellie Riggs; Abby Strutt; Garoa Villaverde.

Deirdre Russell 2pts; Anna Briscoe; Michaela Kelly; Omnia Kharief 4; Kate Markey; Rebecca McGrane; Caoimhe Kearney; Carla Grennan; Dannan Jackson 2; Ava Carolan 2.

Benita Assoua 4pts; Ava Carolan 2; Ellen Donnelly; Zoe Gardiner; Emily Farrell 2; Carla Grennan; Dannan Jackson; Caoimhe Kearney 2; Erin Lane; Zoe Lennon; Katie McCabe 4; Rebecca McGrane; Joy Njekwe; Kaylin Nugent; Lois O’Hare; Keelin O’Reilly 2; Ava Russell; Niamh Skelly.