iSecure Swords Thunder took MissQuote.ie Divison One Trophy honours, with a 69-63 win over St. Paul’s Killarney at the National Basketball Arena.
St. Paul’s Killarney were looking to achieve the double, having sealed promotion to the Super League last month with victory in the MissQuote.ie Division One final over iSecure Swords Thunder, but this time it was the Dublin club who emerged victorious in a close encounter. Jensen Caretti was among those to shine for the victors, as she picked up the MVP, helped by a 19 point haul.
The sides matched each other stride for stride in the opening half, level at 16-16 at the end of the first quarter. Three minutes into the second quarter it was 20-20 following Kate Kelly’s basket for iSecure Swords Thunder, before St. Paul’s Killarney went on a seven-point run, with Denise Dunlea hitting five of those points and Khiarica Rasheed completing the sequence, to give James Fleming’s side a 27-20 lead by the midpoint of the quarter. iSecure Swords Thunder responded emphatically with a nine-point run, Aisling O’Sullivan’s three putting them 29-27 up with three minutes to go, however it would be honours even by half-time, 34-34 apiece.
iSecure Swords Thunder edged the third quarter, former SETU Waterford Wildcats player Jasmine Walker grabbing eight points, as they led 54-47 by the end of it.
St. Paul’s Killarney raced out of the blocks in the fourth quarter, as a Rasheed basket, followed by back-to-back threes from Rheanne O’Shea and Rasheed, put St. Paul’s Killarney back in front, 55-54, three minutes into the quarter. It prompted a timeout from Swords coach Paul Carr and that seemed to have the desired effect — Peggy Black landed from the three point line and a layup from Megan Howe put the Dublin side 59-55 up at the midpoint in the quarter.
A pair of Sophia Paska free throws and the deficit was two points, 61-59, with three minutes to go. Swords Thunder had a six point lead, 65-59, with 53 seconds remaining, thanks to Laura Fortune’s basket and two Caretti free throws and they held their nerve to close out the contest and secure a 69-63 win.
iSecure Swords Thunder head coach, Paul Carr, said: "I'm delighted for the girls. How we've managed to come together from the start of the season, to where we were today has just been amazing. It was a really tough game, both teams played well and gave a great occasion for women's basketball. I'm just proud of how we played not only today, but all season."
iSecure Swords Thunder 69–63 St. Paul’s Killarney
Quarter Scores: Q1: 16-16, Q2: 34-34, Q3: 54-47, Q4: 69-63
iSecure Swords Thunder:
Megan Connolly, Zara Troy, Megan Howe, Zoe Egan, Kate Kelly, Jasmine Walker, Peggy Black, Aisling Sullivan, Laura Fortune, Jensen Caretti
Head Coach: Paul Carr
Top Scorers: Jensen Caretti 19, Jasmine Walker 16, Peggy Black 14
St. Paul’s Killarney:
Liadh Tobin, Leah McMahon, Rheanne O’Shea, Lynn Jones, Aisling O’Mahony, Denise Dunlea, Lorraine Scanlon, Cliona Coffey, Meabh Barry, Mary Kate Smith, Khiarica Rasheed, Sofia Paska
Head Coach: James Fleming
Top Scorers: Khiarica Rasheed 19, Sofia Paska 16, Denise Dunlea 14
National League Finals Results
Friday 12th April
BIDL Women's Plate
Meteors 64-78 Dublin Raiders
Saturday 13th April
BIDL Women's Final
Claregalway 52-67 Liffey Celtics
MissQuote.ie Women's Division One Trophy Final
iSecure Swords Thunder 69-63 St. Paul's Killarney
National League Finals Fixtures
MissQuote.ie Champions Trophy Final
1400 Pyrobel Killester v SETU Waterford Wildcats, Live on TG4
