Greenhills juniors bring ‘A’ game to league final
OUR Lady’s College Greenhills returned home from the National Basketball Arena will plenty to celebrate after a memorable time at the Secondary School Association Finals last Thursday.
The two competing teams departed Drogheda at 8am, followed an hour later by a supporters bus, and first into action were the 2nd Year Junior A team as they faced Maryfield College of Drumcondra in the Premier Division decider.
Captain Ellie Riggs led from the front as she scored her side’s first basket, and point guard Ciara NicCríosta added the next five points to leave the Drogheda girls 7-2 up.
Abby Rice dominated the scoring in quarter two, hitting five of her side’s eight points as they extended their advantage to 15-6 at the half-way stage.
Maryfield out-scored the Boynesiders in the third quarter, but Our Lady’s then got back into their rhythm and with Loveth Edomwande running in some nice lay-ups they finished strongly to complete a 32–17 triumph.
After the medal presentations and with the winners’ trophy firmly in the hands of Ellie Riggs, the Most Valuable Player in the final was announced as Ciara NicCríosta.
Coach Denise Rice said that award was not only deserved for her efforts in the final but for a truly outstanding season as the team’s top scorer.
After the excitement had died down and supporters had returned to their seats the 2nd Year Junior B team had a Division 1 Final to contest against St Mary’s, Glasnevin.
However, a poor start saw the ‘College’ girls go eight points down, with St Mary’s club player dominating as she stole the ball at the half-way line four times in a row.
The next five players to take to the court were tenacious in defence and kept Glasnevin scoreless, but they also spurned easy lay-ups and only managed to score a single point.
By their standards this team never got going on the day, and although they outscored St Mary’s in the remaining two quarters they lost out on the day 21-14. Katie McCabe was their main contributor with 11 points.
Despite the defeat, this was a great achievement for the Junior B team as they won Division 2 as 1st years 12 months ago and made this final having stepped up to the higher level. JUNIOR A: JUNIOR B: