St Paul’s learn a lesson that will stand to them

The St Paul’s squad and mentors on the big day at the National Basketball Arena on Sunday.
Pictures: Eamonn Keogh

A collapse in the third quarter and inaccuracy in front of the boards cost Killarney’s Utility Trust St Paul’s dearly as a far sharper Killester made it back-to-back Women’s Super League titles at the National Basketball Arena in Tallaght.

At the close there were 20 points between the sides, 83-63, and Killester were good value for their comfortable win with Samantha Haiby and Destiny Strother in very impressive form.

St Paul’s made a solid start and but Killester led 21-16 by the end of the first quarter.

James Fleming’s side started the second quarter with a five-point run to bring the game level at 21-21but the Dublin side responded with a nine-point unanswered rally and it was 38-33 at half-time.

Mathilde Diop drives for a basket at the National Basketball Arena

Killester really turned the game in their favour at the start of the third quarter thanks to an emphatic 10-point run while defensively they were containing the threat of the likes of Gracen Kerr and Callie Cavanaugh will relative ease.

Trailing 62-37 at the end of the third quarter, there was really no way back for Killarney, particularly as they had left their shooting boots on the bus, but, to their credit, they started the fourth quarter with back-to-back three pointers from Kerr.

The gap was too large to bridge and the in-form Strother picked up the game MVP following her 20-point performance.

St Paul’s, meanwhile, can reflect on a great campaign that will stand to them going forward,particularly with a number of young player in the squad.

Coach James Fleming stresses his point during a time-out

Utility Trust St Paul’s: Leah McMahon (8), Abby Doherty, Rheanne O’Shea (2), Lynn Jones, Clodagh Clancy, Gracen Kerr (16), Denise Dunlea (4), Lorraine Scanlon (5), Siofra O’Shea, Kate Healy, Callie Cavanaugh (18), Mathilde Diop (10)

Killester: Destiny Strother (20), Michelle Clarke (14), Samantha Haiby (25), Leilani Turner (1), Sarah Courtney (2), Ali Connolly, Robyn Malone, Ieva Bagdanaviciene (10), Hannah Thornton (7), Maeve O’Seaghdha, Sara Fernandez Lopez (4).

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