Red-hot Rockets on target but Colts fall short
Mother Hubbards Rockets 84::::::::::::::::Belfast Rockets 57Basketball: John MelvinA first half performance of clinical efficiency and precision finishing propelled Mother Hubbard's Castlebar Rockets into the All Ireland Women's Regional Basketball League finals following a crushing 27 win over Belfast at the De La Salle Hall, Castlebar on Sunday. This win now puts the Rockets into the finals and within sight of another national title, as they bid to make up for the disappointment of losing the Under 19 Sprite Cup last year. With a side that has been further strengthened in-depth and is rapidly matured into a formidable unit, they will be one of the strong contenders for the title. The play-off's will be held on 13th and 14th of February at a venue yet to be decided, and that could yet be Castlebar, depending on Rockets application to hosts the finals. On this form at home, they would fancy their chances along with five other teams that will be bidding for the title. Apart from an edge in pace and clinical finishing from a variety of angles, Rockets had a very clear advantage over their opponents in terms of fitness. The combined pace and power of Siobhan Kilkenny and Susan Rowland effectively killed off the Belfast challenge ten minutes before the half-time when Rockets opened up on full throttle and went to a full court press game. A Kilkenny three- pointer followed up by two three's in succession from Rowland, and another three-pointer from Kilkenny again, followed by yet another from Rowland ended a breathtaking five minute spell which gave Rockets a stranglehold on this game and un unassailable 24 point lead at the break-52-28. Between them for the game, the Kilkenny and Rowland combination reaped 58 points, an impressive tally by any standards. But this argument was effectively settled by half-time and it was no surprise that Rockets dropped their concentration in a second half which never produced the same exciting buzz as the first as the Rockets maintained a tight grip on the game. However, it was an ideal opportunity for coach Cathy Kilkenny to run her bench and provide valuable experience for a packed bench. The Belfast side never gave up the struggle and certainly did a lot of damage to Rockets with their inside game. However boards play is all about experience, and the Rockets girls are certainly learning the hard way and will be a lot more street wise as they prepare for the finals following some tough boards play from the Belfast girls. Fiona Feeney and Lenora Gibbons took the big rebounds in the first half when they were needed and Karen Hennelly put a bad spell of perimeter shooting behind here to deliver a solid eight points and produced a forceful defensive game. Ciara and Niamh Griffin, Maria Hayes, Orla Hennelly, Anita Hoban and even the youngest of the panel Karen Connell and Sinead Fitzmaurice all got a taste of senior women's basketball at its toughest and hopefully the experience garnered will prepare them for the even tougher challenges that lie ahead. But it was the impeccable shooting from Kilkenny, who hit the game high of 33 points, along with a magnificent 25 from Rowland which illuminated a thrilling first half and left the biggest mark, Kilkenny's defensive qualities and her lightening reflexes effecting a number of steals and providing rich entertainment with some great basketball for a very appreciative audience at the Castlebar venue. Castlebar Rockets: Siobhan Kilkenny 33, Susan Rowland 25, Lenora Gibbons 10, Karen Hennelly 8, Fiona Feeney 2, Anita Hoban 4 Niamh Griffin 2, Maria Hayes, Ciara Griffin, Anita Hoban, Orla Hennelly, Sinead Fitzmaurice, Karen Connell. Colts fall shortBallina Colts reached the final of the Boys Under 19 Sprite Cup at the National Basketball Arena in Tallaght on Sunday where they went down to Kilkenny on a score of 73-55. The Ballina boys, with two students from St Gerald's College, Castlebar on baord-Paul McGuinness and James Durcan- produced a superb game to take out Portlaoise in the first game and looked to be on course for the title when they led Kilkenny by sixteen points at an early stage. However, foul trouble turned out to be Ballina's big problem on the day, with their top gun, Ronan McGarrity picking up three fouls at an early stage, and four in the first half, which meant his influence was seriously curtailed in the second half as Kilkenny played an effective double team game on the talented Ballina player, who was eventually fouled out. Kilkenny got back on level terms at the interval at 30 all, but with McGarrity on the bench for the start of the second half, the Colts fell behind by fourteen and were struggling to get back on terms against a very strong Kilkenny outfit. David Melia, Paul McGuinness, James Harrison and Martin Hughes battled hard for the Ballina side but they were outgunned and in a foul troubled and turbulent second half, but this is a side that has another two years at this level and will certainly have learned much from this experience. |
