Two Mayo schools had contrasting fortunes in the National Basketball Arena this week in the Schools League Finals in the venue.
Gortnor Abbey took home the U19B Boys Schools League title, while St Louis CS Kiltimagh, were defeated in the Girls U19B Boys Schools League Final.
Gortnor Abbey emerged 64-39 winners over Limerick’s St Munchins in their final on Wednesday. The team who are coached by former Ballina player and Basketball Ireland Hall of Fame inductee Liam McHale, had another McHale to the fore on the court – nephew Matthew McHale scored 23 points to earn the MVP award.
It was a cagey opening first quarter, Gortnor Abbey just 11-8 in front, but just as with the opening two finals, it was the second quarter where the gap opened up and it was 34-21 by half-time.
Guiu Julian Guiard (17 ) and Conor Barrett (14 ) also played pivotal roles in Gortnor Abbey’s win, while for St Munchins, their scoring was headed by Patryk Pejowicz (18 ), Reece Barry (8 ) and Liam Price (7 ).
On Tuesday afternoon the girls from Kiltimagh were pipped by Kerry opponents in their final after a brave showing. Gaelcholáiste Chiarraí proved too much to handle for St. Louis CS Kiltimagh, ultimately winning 63-40. A slow opening quarter for St. Louis left them behind by seven, but a 20-point showing in the second quarter brought them right back into it, as they lagged by just three points going into the second, 25-28.
Gaelcholáiste Chiarraí surged ahead in the third however, outscoring St. Louis by 13, and another strong offence in the final quarter left them comfortably in front at the final buzzer. Standout performances for each team came in the form of Hazel Finn for St. Louis and Paris McCarthy for Gaelcholáiste Chiarraí.
Finn picked up 28 points for St. Louis, while Paris McCarthy, MVP for the game, scored a massive 36 points for his side. Another standout scorer was Rachel Ní Chríodáin for Gaelcholáiste Chiarraí, who notched three 3-pointers, and made 11 points for the game.
