Maree’s young u-12 basketball stars are following in the footsteps of their more senior clubmates after winning the Vork Under 12 Open.
Maree produced a great team effort with all 11 players contributing during the tournament to claim this year’s trophy.
Maree were confident when facing Cork outfit Fr Matthews in the final having beaten them in the earlier pool rounds. Maree were 9 - 4 ahead at the end of the first quarter, but Fr Mathews cut the lead to a single point before scores from Rian, Ciaran Blaney and Jim Crowley put them ahead by 17 - 10 at half time.
With neither team in foul trouble, Fr Matthews played their best basketball in the third quarter as Maree's defence was caught badly for the first time in the tournament. Mathews hit eight points without reply to grab the lead but the Galway outfit refused to lie down, and started stronger in the fourth. With their defence solid, scores from Blaney, Crowley and Maher opened up a six-point lead before pulling away for a deserved 35 - 24 victory.
It was the second time in the tournament Maree had taken the scalp of the in-form Cork side, having lost to them twice last year. With comfortable wins over Carrigaline and Ballincollig in the first two group games, Maree then overcame Fr Mahthews to set up an all-Galway semi-final against Moycullen. Close in the first half with Maree leading by 13 - 12, Maree outscored Moycullen 14 - 2 in the fourth to win by 37 - 22.
