Rathdrum just pipped by league leaders Naas
Wednesday March 03 2010
RATHDRUM LADIES took on top-placed Naas in their most recent league tie on Friday, February 26 at St. Laurence College.
Rathdrum made great use of the home advantage to make a very strong start against the high scoring Naas side. Strong drives to the basket by Grace Sexton and Mary Quinn yielded free throws and the girls were flawless from the free throw line.
Further baskets from Quinn, Annette Scott and Mary Giles saw Rathdrum score 10 points in the first Quarter. Rathdrum managed to halt Naas' strong inside player, former international, Erica Mahon and held her to just two points in the first quarter.
Great defense by the Rathdrum first five of Sexton, Quinn, Scott, Giles and Helena Dennehy gave Rathdrum the start they needed to stay in contention for the game. However accurate outside shooting from the three point line by Naas' No. 5 Keelin Behan left the sides close at the end of the quarter. Rathdrum stepped up a gear in the second quarter with 3 pointers from Margot Hughes and Mary Giles and points from Rita Mc Mullen and Mary Doyle.
Rathdrum won the quarter 12 - 7, and led by 7 at the half time interval. The third quarter was a close fought affair. Rathdrum adding just 5 points to their tally through Sexton and Dennehy, while Naas sharp shooter Behan Scored 5 for her team along with a further 7 points from Mahon and Claire Halligan.
At the end of the third quarter the margin had dwindled to just 1 point and it was anybody's game.. In a cruel twist of fate Rathdrum's Mary Giles injured her hand with 30 seconds to go in the last quarter.
This loss unsettled the Rathdrum ladies and gave Naas the opening to come back into a game they never looked likely to win. Rathdrum were rattled and Naas chose this opportunity to press the Rathdrum offense causing the home side to turn over the ball on two occasions and Naas converted the resulting fast breaks into vital scores.
The final result was a narrow defeat for Rathdrum on a scoreline of 33 - 35. Naas coach, Joe Clancy, admitted after the game that his team had been lucky to come away with a win very much against the run of play. This was a very sporting and enjoyable contest with excellent basketball on both sides and leaves Rathdrum wondering why they are so poorly placed in the division this year.
The Rathdrum coaches will take great encouragement from this encounter when they take on Artane on Monday 1st March in Mount Temple.
