Friends become foes for the day
THE year ended on a high note in Our Lady’s College Greenhills as four of their basketball teams faced other on the same day for the right to progress to the Secondary Schools Association Finals.
There was an air of anticipation and also nervousness on the day as none of the teams relished the thought of playing each other. They train together twice a week and aside from being familiar with each other are also good friends.
The Under-16 semi-final came first, and with point guard Katie McCabe injured, Erin Lane started for the ‘B’ team and wasted no opportunity in showing why she should make the starting five in the final, scoring six points in the first quarter. That helped put the ‘B’ side 22–0 up at the first break against their ‘C’ counterparts who were struggling to keep up with the pace of the game and missed opportunities.
Caoimhe Kearney from the ‘B’ team was in sparkling form, scoring 14 points, but was just pipped for top scorer on the day by Erin Lane who hit 15 as their team eventually prevailed 57-7.
In the Under-19 competition, the Division 2 ‘A’ team finished unbeaten in Section A and the ‘B’ team finished second in Section B, resulting in they too meeting in a semi-final.
It took a few minutes for this one to warm up, but by the end of quarter one the ‘A’ side led 10-4, with Oyin Adelegan scoring six points.
The ‘A’ team plugged away at the scoreboard and reached halftime with a lead of 18-9.
The ‘B’ side got more opportunities in the third quarter, with Catherine Grey once again leading the charge, but they could not bridge the gap and ended up on the wrong end of a 34-16 scoreline.
Coach Denise Rice sat out both matches and would like to thank TY’s Abigail Woods and Niamh Burke for coaching the Under-16 teams and last year’s 6th Years Sinead Collier, Sarah Megan Flood and Isabella Flores for returning to coach the Under-19 teams.
Both winning sides will play in the finals at the National Basketball Arena in Tallaght on January 17th. UNDER-16 ‘C’: Ronke Olatinwo 2pts; Olamide Adegoke; Martyna Chomiak; Ellen Donnelly 1; Niamh Gumba 2; Dijana Markovic; Rebecca McGrane 1; Aoibheann NiFhearaigh; Gemma O’Toole; Sharon Popoola 1; Aoife Steenson. Coach: Abigail Woods.
UNDER-16 ‘B’: Benita Assoua 6pts; Alice Bermingham 2; Carla Grennan 4; Caoimhe Kearney 14; Bronagh Lane 7; Erin Lane 15; Joy Njekwe 2; Kaylin Nugent; Lois O’Hare 2; Keelin O’Reilly 5. Coach Niamh Burke.
UNDER-19 ‘A’: Aoife Howard 2pts; Oyin Adelegan 8; Eimear Clarke 2; Niamh Cullen; Caoimhe Doherty; Lindsey Eriamietor 10; Chelsea Imafidon 2; Sinead Lewin 2; Laura Rice 2; Lynn Victory 4; Garoa Villaverde 2. Coach Sinead Collier.
UNDER-19 ‘B’: Leah Bastianelli; Rachael Beirth 2pts; Shona Bradley; Niamh Burke; Aisling Doran; Chantelle Gallagher 3; Holly Garry 2; Catherine Grey 4; Omnia Kharief 1; Deirdre Russell 2; Abigail Woods 2; Rachel Woods. Coaches: