U16 All-Ireland Schools League Final – Match Report
There was a late start, for a change, in the U16 All-Ireland Schools League Final. The team and their supporters were able to enjoy three morning classes before heading to the National Basketball Arena in Dublin to take on St. Attracta’s Community School of Tubbercurry with a throw-in time of 3.15.
From the start, it was clear that both teams had strategic plans in place to stifle the opposition and this made the first quarter of the game a cagey affair with both teams trying to find openings in the other teams defence. It was the Clare side that struck first but the game was levelled soon after and the Sligo team took the lead at the end of the first quarter 8-7.
Into the second quarter and we managed to get our offense clicking, building a 4 point lead with the help of some excellent defensive plays to hold off the opposing school. As was the story of the game for us, we never managed to push on and build a big lead from our periods on top and St. Attracta’s took advantage of some rare defensive errors to tie the game at the end of the half 16-16.
Unfortunately, these lapses in concentration became too frequent in the third quarter and we fell into a 6 point deficit with the next basket looking crucial to both teams’ hopes. After many shot attempts on both sides, we managed a vital steal under their basket and scored from the resulting possession to bring it back to 4 with this difference in score remaining until the end of the quarter (25-21).
It was midway through the 4th quarter, where we managed to piece a few baskets together and hit the front again with a 3 point lead. But we couldn’t build on this and St. Attracta’s kept fighting back. With the 3 point gap remaining until the final minute and our defense at this point looking mostly impenetrable, it took a moment of magic from the Sligo school to hit their first three pointer of the game and take the match into overtime with the score at 33-33.
The girls regrouped going into the 3 minutes of overtime and took an early 3 point lead before being hit by two baskets to fall 1 point behind. Into the last minute and the balance of the game tossed and turned. Our girls were able to take a long two pointer to get into the lead again but this was immediately reversed with a St. Attracta’s basket and a made free throw followed this to bring the score to 40-38. With 5 seconds remaining and our girls desperately trying to tie up the game, we were given a lifeline as we were fouled under the basket and given two free throws. The first basket was made to bring us back to within one and a second would push the game into a second period of overtime. But luck was not on our side…or so we thought!! With the second free throw hitting the ring and bouncing away from the basket, it looked like our hopes were destroyed. But we weren’t defeated yet and we claimed the rebound and sent the ball back towards the basket where it dropped in nicely to put us up 41-40. The final three seconds felt like an eternity but the final whistle blew and the girls were eventually crowned champions.
A well deserved victory for all the players and it was fitting that the huge effort they have put in throughout the season has paid off. Also, thank you all the supporters who attended the final and to everyone who has supported us and cheered for us along the way. Your support meant everything to the team and we are delighted that we could share these moments with ye all.
