Big defensive show sees St. Oliver’s CC beat Ardee CS in All-Ireland Under 16C Girls Schools League Final

An impressive defensive display by St. Oliver’s Community College saw them run out 43-13 winners over Ardee Community School to capture the All-Ireland Under 16C Girls Schools League title in the National Basketball Arena on Monday.

It did not take long for St. Oliver’s to exert a tight grip on this decider, with an early bucket from Hannele Raji igniting a 16-point run that was arrested only by a converted free throw from Ardee co-skipper, Nicole Fitzgerald late in the first quarter.

By then St. Oliver’s had gained a significant foothold with captain and MVP, Tade Ademokun utilising her physical presence on the inside to serve up four baskets in quick succession that helped leave her side well in control heading into the second quarter.

And they continued to press home that advantage, pushing their lead out to 24 points by the half-time break thanks in no small measure to Rebecca Martins who put up six for her side in the second quarter.

Ardee, to their credit, continued to battle for everything, but the scores were not coming regularly enough due to a combination of aggressive defence from St. Oliver’s and that slight lack of composure whenever they were afforded the occasional open layup.

Even when they managed to confine their opponents to eight points in the third quarter, Ardee were, themselves, able to add only a Sinéád Fox bucket to their tally in the same period.

Anna McCartney did serve up a nice three-point play for Ardee in the fourth, but St. Oliver’s were home and hosed by this stage as Gabriella Martins, Gabrielle Gabari and Ademokun got more than enough of a return in offence to keep their side well clear.

Delighted at seeing his team take the final step on the road to All-Ireland Schools League success, St Oliver’s head coach Sherman Hall said “These girls have been working together since they were first-years.

“They’ve stuck together, and anytime I’ve opened up the gym early at about 6am in the morning, they’re all there playing, and these are the results you get.

“That’s what they said they wanted, that’s what they set out to achieve and they’ve done that today.

“It means just so much to the school. This is just so positive for the area and you can see from the kids here today just what it means to them” he said.

Quarter Scores: Q1: 1-16, Q2: 6-30, Q3: 8-38, Q4: 13-43

Ardee Community School:

Nicole Fitzgerald (Co-Capt), Anna McCartney (Co-Capt), Helen O’Reilly, Helena Zucchini, Kelsey Clarke, Sinéad Fox, Aine Dillon, Emma Kerr, Emma Boyle, Molly Keenan, Sophie Monaghan, Sorcha Hughes

Head Coach:  Sara O’Leary

Top Scorers: Anna McCartney (4), Nicole Fitzgerald (3), Sophie Monaghan (2) Sinéad Fox (2) & Helen O’Reilly (2). 

St. Oliver’s Community College:

Anna Ita, Gabriella Martins, Linda Riekstina, Rebecca Martins, Hannele Raji, Tade Ademokun (Capt), Gabrielle Gabari, Eliana Ademola, Kacet Clarke Sapanee, Christianna Olaitan, Kendra Ndemba, Ava McGreal.

Head Coach: Sherman Hall

Top Scorers: Tade Ademokun (15), Rebecca Martins (8), Gabriella Martins (8)

MVP: Tade Ademokun (St Oliver’s Community College)