Wildcats retain Championship prize
Avonmore Snowcream Wildcats 57(31) Meteors 44(22)
Jillian Hayes 15 Karen Hennessy 13
Olivia O’Reilly 12 Orla Nolan 9
Michelle Aspell 12 Catherine O’Sullivan 9
Mary Fitzpatrick 10
Avonmore Snowcream Wildcats retained their Irish Championship crown with a 57-44 win over Meteors at the National Basketball Arena which complements their Cup success of January.
Wildcats enjoyed the lead from tip off in a tense and low scoring encounter, both sides showing the effects of playing their third game in three days.
Karen Hennessy kept Meteors in it in the first quarter, scoring 7 of the 9 points, but Catriona White and Mary Fitzpatrick were on form and they hit 9 points between them to see Wildcats lead 16-9 at the end of the quarter. Captain for the day Fitzpatrick was playing her last ever game for the Waterford outfit after 15 years and her team ensured that a glorious career will end on a high.Hayes gave Hennessy problems inside in the second quarter and the former Irish International picked up two fouls in her effort to stop the big inside player for Wildcats, but Hayes could only convert 1 from 4 at the line. Hennessy and Catherine O’Sullivan were the main offensive threats for Meteors, but even their good work could not prevent Wildcats going in 31-22 in front at the half time whistle.
Meteors battled hard in the second half and some nice shooting by O’Sullivan and the hard work of team-mate Hennessy under the boards cut Wildcats lead to just 4 points with four minutes remaining. Meteors looked like they might stage a last minute come back, but the wily Waterford side held on, extending their lead to 12 points with 1 minute remaining before tournament MVP Jillian Hayes made both her free throws for a game high 15 points which was the last action of the game.
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