SPORT: Local schools triumph in basketball finals at NBA

TWO Northside schools were celebrating last week after their teams were crowned champions at the SUBWAY® All Ireland Schools’ Cup Finals in the National Basketball Arena (NBA), Tallaght. 

Holy Faith Clontarf defeated Scoil Chríost Rí, Portlaoise 61-20 to win the Under 16A Girls’ Cup Final, while St Aidan’s CBS, Whitehall defeated Coláiste Choilm, Ballincollig 92-71 in the Under 19A Boys’ Final.

Unfortunately the Under 19A Girls’ team at Holy Faith, Clontarf couldn’t make it a Northside hat-trick, going down gallantly 69-66 in a thrilling final against Ard Scoil Rathangan.

St Aidan’s were particularly strong in their final against their Cork opponents. Their victory was based on having big players and enjoying a strong start.   

“Each basket was as important as the one before out there,” said 6’6” guard Matt Treacy. “I love playing with this team and we’ll go far again I hope. I’ve been waiting for this for a long time.”

Holy Faith, Clontarf, proved too strong for their Laois opponents in the Girls’ Under 16A final, taking a 33-8 lead into the interval.

Head coach Jerome Westbrooks, who turns 60 in November and is still actively playing for Killester Basketball Club, said: “We said to the girls not to let the occasion get to them and go out there and have fun and that’s exactly what they did.”

Elizabeth Black, who scored 12 of her team’s points, won the Most Valuable Player (MVP) award.

Speaking at the presentation of prizes, Muriel O’Grady, Development Agent, SUBWAY® Ireland, said: “Congratulations to the newly crowned champions Holy Faith, Clontarf who defeated Scoil Chríost Rí, Portlaoise in an exciting final.

“The skill and sportsmanship of all the schools participating in today’s finals has been hugely impressive and their schoolmates, who travelled from all over the country to support their teams, should also be congratulated.”

Ms O’Grady also praised the St Aidan’s CBS boys on their triumph.