Pictured last month when they won the Under 19 schoolgirls C cup, Charlestown were celebrating again today when they claimed the Under 19 schools league title. Photo: INPHO/Gary Carr

Charlestown claim basketball double

SAINT Joseph's Secondary College, Charlestown, claimed a remarkable double today by adding the Under 19 schoolgirls C basketball league title to the cup they won last month at the National Basketball Arena in Tallaght, where they defeated Colaiste na Toirbhirte (Cork) 30-28.

It looked an unlikely victory for the Charlestown girls, who played way below the high standards they had set in the cup, as they trailed for most of the game.

But St. Joseph's upped the intensity of their game in the third and fourth quarters in particular, with some briliant boards play from Elisha Duffy and Hannah and Sarah Burke, while Kellee Crean, who picked up the MVP award for the second time, and Chelsea Doherty came more into the game.

It was Crean who edged her team ahead by a point from the free-throw line in the final 30 seconds and Doherty sealed the deal, also from the free-throw line, in those tense closing moments.

St. Joseph's trailed by 9-3 at the end of the first quarter, a basket from Doherty their only score from play in that quarter, which saw the Cork side play a very tough man-to-man defence.

At the end of the second quarter the deficit was just five - 13-8 - thanks to a basket on the half-time buzzer from Crean, but the Bandon girls could have been further ahead as they missed a couple of easy baskets.

It was still anyone's game going into the third quarter, which was by far Charlestown's best, with two big baskets from Sarah Burke along with another from Crean to draw level at 15-all. However, Bandon came back to lead the third by 21-19, a great steal by Doherty producing a big basket for Charlestown, who had every chance going into the fourth and final quarter.

In a tense fourth quarter, Charlestown dug in and dug deep to emerge as deserving winners in the end as they completed a magnificent double, winning by just one basket.

 

 

St. Gerald's lose out

 

THERE was no such luck for St. Gerald's College, Castlebar, who were also in action in the Under 19 schoolboys C league final in Tallaght.

Despite a 20-point deficit at one stage being reduced to nine, the Castlebar college came up short against Baldoyle in a final which really picked up in the second half as the Mayo boys brought a lot more intensity to their offensive and defensive game.

It finished 59 to 48 in favour of the Dublin school, whose three-point shooting was a huge factor in helping them clinch the title

St. Gerald's began well to go five in front but were soon reeled in as Baldoyle won the first quarter 18-13. They had pushed that lead to 38-20 at half-time, and that was extended to 20 in the third quarter.

However, a gutsy comeback led by Jamie Vegas and Ethan Gibbons saw the Castlebar school within nine, only to be hit by a huge three-pointer to put the deficit back to double figures.

St. Gerald's still had plenty of chances and they chased hard but they missed three lay-ups to close the gap in the last few minutes when they had Baldoyle back-peddling.

However, it was the first half which really cost them as they missed shots they would normally put away while Baldoyle's excellent three-point shooting proved major blows at crucial stages of the game.