BASKETBALL: ALL-IRELAND SCHOOLS U16 C FINAL
CPC KILCULLEN 41 LORETO COLLEGE MULLINGAR 36
CROSS and Passion College Kilcullen secured the All Ireland under-16 ‘C’ girls title with a hard fought 41-36 victory over Loreto College Mullingar.
Most Valuable Player (MVP) Emma Wheeler got CPC off the mark in the early stages. Sabina McLoughlin responded for Loreto before Kate Willis hit an impressive two to give CPC a 6-3 lead. Bridget Heslin produced a superb shot to bring Loreto back to within one. Emma Wheeler and Ciara Wheeler combined in quick succession to give CPC a five point first quarter lead. 12-7
An unrelenting start to the second quarter saw the sides trade baskets. CPC appeared to be the more dynamic side in attack and stretched the lead out to eight, thanks to some intelligent play from Emma Wheeler and Kate Willis. Loreto were in need of a scoring run before the half time interval, but their momentum was undone by repeated travelling violations. Crucially Jenny Hynes got two successive scores for Loreto to bring her side right back into contention.
At half-time it was 17-13. The third quarter saw both sets of fans roar their teams on to stirring effect. Loreto’s improved defensive showing was beginning to bear fruit. Nonetheless Emma Wheeler was showing her abilities, the CPC star increasing her side’s lead to ten points after a couple of quick counter-attacks.
Daire Smyth added two more moments later as CPC began to gain a stranglehold on the scoreboard. The situation was becoming increasingly desperate for Loreto with the clock ticking down. Loreto had it all to do in the final quarter, trailing 31-21.
Wheeler added to her side’s lead early in the final quarter, extending the CPC lead to a seemingly insurmountable 14. Loreto tried desperately to get back in contention in the final stages and were looking like pulling off a spirited fight-back, but it was to be Kilcullen’s day, running out eventual 41-36 winners after a tough examination from Loreto.
SCORERS
CPC: E Wheeler ��, C Wheeler ��, D Smyth �
LORETO: B Heslin ��, J Hynes ��, S McLoughlin �