Delight as Colaiste na Carraige girls win All-Ireland Schools Basketball League

Colaiste na Carraige are taking U16 ‘C’ Girls All-Ireland Schools League trophy back to Donegal, defeating Coláiste Dún An Rí 44-36 at the National Basketball Arena.

They had to hold off a spirited comeback from Coláiste Dún An Rí, who trailed by 11 at the midway point in the third but got to within four inside the final three minutes. MVP Alanna Boyle scored two crucial buckets in the last 90 seconds to close the game out.

Erin Shannon and Karina Urbanaviciute showed up well for Coláiste Dún An Rí in the opening possessions. The latter made a nice jump shot from the key sandwiched between three fast break baskets for Shannon.

Colaiste Na Carraige entered the second quarter 10-6 down, but a trio of quickfire scores by Alanna Boyle and Laura Boyle restored parity at the halfway mark. The momentum was entirely with Colaiste Na Carraige at this stage and further baskets by Saoirse O’Donnell and the two Boyle’s eased them into a 20-15 lead at the break.

The second half was a more tense affair. Clodagh Ellis found herself on the end of a nice passing move with 2:27 left in the third and Colaiste Na Carraige’s lead became 11 points. It looked as if the game was beyond Coláiste Dún An Rí, but back they came once more. Erin Shannon and Aoife Kennedy made jumpers and when Urbanaviciute hit a corner three to end the third, they were right back in it, 32-26 down.

The lively Urbanaviciute was to the fore once more when the gap decreased to four points with 2:30 left on the clock, notching her 13th point of the contest in doing so. However, that is as close as they could get. Alanna Boyle showed all the skill and determination that made her MVP to hit the dagger with two late scores off Colaiste Dún An Rí turnovers, sparking wild celebrations from their travelling support.

Top Scorers
Colaiste na Carraige: Alanna Boyle (17), Clodagh Ellis (8), Saoirse O’Donnell (5)
Coláiste Dún An Rí: Karina Urbanaviciute (13), Erin Shannon (12), Aoife Kennedy (6)

Colaiste na Carraige: Alanna Boyle, Clodagh Ellis, Molly Moy, Lauren McCloskey, Ailbhe Doherty, Alannah Rafferty, Maria Diver, Laura Boyle, Saoirse O’Donnell, Emma Diver
Coláiste Dún An Rí: Erin Shannon, Karina Urbanaviciute, Millie Burns, Aoife Kennedy, Cait Hughes, Helena O’Reilly, Grace Power, Lucy McEntee, Kathryn Higgins, Danielle Rooney, Sinead Carolan, Orlaith Reilly.