Schools

Jan 20 2022

Crescent College Comprehensive crowned Pinergy Schools U16 A champs after beating Coláiste Chiarain 54-30

Crescent College Comprehensive S.J. have won the Pinergy All-Ireland Schools Cup U16 A Final, after they proved too strong for Coláiste Chiarain, beating them 54-30 at the National Basketball Arena.

MVP was Ava Crean, who scored 19 for Crescent College Comprehensive S.J., and dictated much of their offensive play. Top scorers for Crescent College Comprehensive S.J. were Ava Crean, Alli Walsh (10) and Rachel Somers (9). For Coláiste Chiarain, it was Clara Boyce (10), Kelly Bracken (9) and Sarah Bradley (6) who top scored.

The scoring was kicked off by Alli Walsh for Crescent College Comprehensive, with a three-point jump shot to the right of the D. Coláiste Chiarain first made it onto the board thanks to a free throw from Ciara Farrell. After 2 minutes it was 5-1 in favour of Crescent Comprehensive, after a basket from Hannah O'Byrne increased the gap. A hook shot from Alisha Farrell after a timeout increased the lead for Crescent College further, built on further by Hannah O'Byrne after she scored a rebound. A jump shot from inside the D on the left thanks to Rachel Somers gave Coláiste Chiarain another two points. It was 7-10 with 90 seconds left in the quarter, as Kelly Bracken and Sarah Bradley fought to bring Coláiste Chiarain level with their opponents. With a minute left, Alli Walsh burst through defense for a layup, to make it 7-12. A basket for Alisha Russell increased the gap, but a swift response from Clara Boyce made it a five-point game at the end of the quarter, 9-14 with Crescent College Comprehensive S.J. ahead.

Scoring in the second quarter was opened by Sarah Bradley with a layup, bringing them to within three points of Crescent College. Clara Boyce earned a pair of free throws after a defensive rebound foul, of which she converted one. A steal from Hannah O'Byrne prevented Coláiste Chiarain from building on their momentum, as they had controlled the opening minutes of the quarter. A layup from Ava Crean was Crescent College Comprehensive's first score of the quarter, after another steal from an impressive Hannah O'Byrne. 30 seconds later, Ava Crean added another two points from free throws, and her teammate Ali Walsh added a layup to make it 20-12 for Crescent Comprehensive.

With two minutes left, it was 16-22, before a jump shot from Rachel Somers increased the gap to eight. Clara Boyce assisted Kelly Bracken with a layup heading into the final minute of the half. The final score of the half came as Ava Crean sent the ball to Hannah O'Byrne for the jump shot, which left Crescent Comprehensive ahead by eight, 18-26.

Crescent College came out all guns blazing in the second, scoring nine points without response thanks to Ava Crean and Rachel SOmers. Ava Crean added layup, with the attack initiated by a Hannah O'Byrne defensive rebound. Coláiste Chiarain called timeout with 2:30 left on the clock in the quarter, as Crescent College led 39-18. The timeout served Coláiste Chiarain well, as Clara Boyce kicked off resumed play with a long-range jump shot. Rachel Somers responded with a jump shot of her own, before Kelly Bracken slotted a nice 3-pointer. A free throw for Crean was followed up by a buzzer beater from Alli Walsh closed out the quarter 44-23 in favour of Crescent College Comprehensive.

A steal from Alisha Russell led to a layup from Ava Crean after 2 minutes in the final quarter, as the opening minutes had been dominated by impressive defending from both sides. It was another minute before the next score came, another layup from a dogged Ava Crean. 50 seconds later, Ava Crean capitalised on a defensive turnover with another layup basket, putting her team ahead 50-23 with four minutes left in the game.

Kelly Bracken get a two, followed by a free throw from 8 and a layup from 11 after a defensive break. Another layup from 8 put Coláiste Chiarain at 30 points, showing they had plenty of fight left in them. Howveer it was Crescent College Comprehensive who closed out the game with baskets from Alli Walsh & Kelly Bracken, ending the final 54-30, with the cup going to a deserving Crescent College Comprehensive S.J.

Top scorers:

Coláiste Chiarain - Ava Crean (19), Alli Walsh (10), Rachel Somers (9)

Crescent College Comprehensive S.J. - Clara Boyce (10), Kelly Bracken (9), Sarah Bradley (6)

Teams:

Coláiste Chiarain - Saibh Dunne, Kelly Bracken, Orlaith Thornton, Grace Barry, Clara Boyce, Aimee Brophy, Evelyn Walsh, Sarah Bradley, Meryleen Gevorgyan, Ciara Farrell, Rachel Mulleady, Alannah Diffney

Crescent College Comprehensive S.J. - Ava Crean, Aisling Kelly, Hannah O’ Byrne , Alli Walsh, Alisha Russell, Rachel Somers, Laura Naughton