National League

Mar 09 2024

St. Paul’s Killarney crowned MissQuote.ie Division One champions while Drogheda Wolves clinch last-gasp victory

St. Paul’s Killarney were crowned 2023/24 MissQuote.ie Division One champions following their 71-48 victory over iSecure Swords Thunder in Saturday’s final in the National Basketball Arena, while Drogheda Wolves clinched a dramatic 94-93 triumph over Kavanagh’s Portlaoise Panthers in their InsureMyVan.ie Division One top-of-the-table clash in Ballymakenny College.

St. Paul’s Killarney can look forward to a return to the top ranks of Irish women’s basketball next season after they recorded a 71-48 victory over iSecure Swords Thunder in Saturday’s MissQuote.ie Division One Final in the National Basketball Arena.

Sofia Paska and Khiarica Rasheed delivered a combined 41 points for the Kerry side, while Lorraine Scanlon was immense under the boards with 15 rebounds, as St. Paul’s kept their Dublin rivals to their lowest game-points total of this season’s campaign, despite the best efforts of Jensen Caretti, who managed 19 points and eight rebounds on the day.

“We’re thrilled to be back in the Super League” smiled St. Paul’s Killarney head coach, James Fleming.

“Killarney has a proud tradition of basketball, and to have the best of the best coming to our great town next season will be amazing.

“Our performance defensively today was superb. Everyone knew their roles and we're just delighted” he said.

In the InsureMyVan.ie Division One, a stunning three-point buzzer-beater by Francisco Dias saw Drogheda Wolves snatch a dramatic 94-93 victory at home against Kavanagh’s Portlaoise Panthers in Saturday night’s North Conference top-of-the-table clash.

Drogheda, who were without the services of the injured Justin Copman for this much-anticipated fixture, saw Adam Mulally and Tiago Pereira really step up to the plate with a combined 50 points as the hosts led by six heading into the second half.

But with Kerry Richardson serving up a game-high 30 for Portlaoise and Ravel Moody netting 28, the visitors fought their way back into an eight-point advantage early in the fourth quarter, only to see Drogheda mount a late surge that culminated in Dias’ breath-taking winner at the death.

“We had big games all-round on both ends of the floor and to win on the buzzer in front of a capacity home crowd was very special” smiled Drogheda Wolves head coach, Dave Biggins.

“The win keeps us in the hunt for a home draw in the play-offs and that's been our goal all year.

“We will enjoy this one tonight, but our focus quickly moves to our final game next week away to Killarney Cougars” he insisted.

UCD Marian’s 112-77 win at home to Team NorthWest means there are now three teams tied at the top of the North Conference.

Christian Simmons was immense for the visitors with 33 points and 11 rebounds, but even his contribution could not put the brakes on the in-form UCD, as Jonathan Jean’s 33-point haul and Tobias Christensen’s 21 helped them to their sixth win on the bounce.

In what was a meeting of the top two in the South Conference on Sunday, Limerick Celtics turned in a big third-quarter display to outgun SETU Carlow by 21 in that period and ultimately earn a 107-99 victory in Barrow Centre.

Andrew Whistett and Da’kquan Davis inflicted huge damage on the homeside as they totalled 75 points between them to help undo a Carlow team that still had five players on double figures, including Michael Wallace (26) and Lawrence Summers (21).

Despite a 94-74 reversal at the hands of Limerick Sport Eagles in the UL Arena, Scotts Lakers Killarney still secured a play-off berth, thanks to a 93-74 defeat for their closest rivals, SETU Waterford Vikings at home against Killarney Cougars in Carrickpherish Hall.

After losing the opening quarter by 16 points against Limerick Sport Eagles on Saturday, Scotts Lakers Killarney reduced their arrears to just a solitary point by the end of the third only to afford their hosts another big run in the fourth that ultimately saw them comfortably over the line.

Leondre Washington and Eoin Carroll accounted for 46 points for Killarney, while Limerick’s Sam Finley emerged the game’s top scorer on 27, with team mate, Kealan Coats just one point shy of that total.

Despite Idris Joyner serving up a superb 35 points, 14 rebounds and five assists, SETU Waterford Vikings saw their outside hopes of clinching a play-off berth evaporate as they suffered a 19-point reversal at home against Killarney Cougars.

It marked a second straight win for the Kerry outfit, whose own Darius Hopkins enjoyed a big game with 33 points, while Martin Hill also made a serious impact at both ends of the floor with 24 points and 18 rebounds.

Joels Dublin Lions came through a tough challenge against Moy Tolka Rovers to edge an 86-84 triumph in their Dublin derby in Tolka Rovers Sports Complex, Brendan Trapper and Tiernan Howe combining for 46 points for the Clondalkin side.

Jaja Davis and Dewan White, between them, accounted for 42 points for the homeside, but that was still not enough to prevent them slipping to a fourth straight defeat.

A big fourth-quarter performance saw Mater Private Malahide turn an eight-point deficit into an 87-77 victory over Titans BC in Malahide Community School.

Nino Hernandez hit 12 points down the stretch while Matthew Harper weighed in with 11 in the same period to take their combined total on the night to 58 as Malahide powered past a Titans team, for whom Deontae Robertson put up 24 points and 12 rebounds.