Intermediate School Killorglin 45 – Coláiste Iognáid (Jes) 55
Coláiste Iognáid U16 boys beat Intermediate School of Killorglin to win the Under16B League Title. The Jes settled first racing into an 8-0 lead but Killorglin roared back into contention through the outside shooting of Liam Croke and Eoin O’Sullivan to take the lead at the end of the first quarter.
“They didn’t hit any threes in their semi-final so we weren’t expecting that,” said Jes Coach Adrian O’Neill in relation to the first quarter. “It put us under a little bit of pressure but we eventually got our defensive intensity right and made some fast breaks for easy baskets.”
The second quarter was all Coláiste Iognáid. Evan Somers hit a couple of three-pointers, Mark Convery took his first half tally to 10 points and Lorcan O Mordha and Jack Browne scored fast breaks to help The Jes win the quarter by 17, making it 28-12 at half time.
The Jes continued to shut down ISK in the paint in the third quarter. It was a scrappy enough period with no momentum for either team. Roan Moriarty’s three-pointer was a big score for Killorglin but they truly came to life in the last quarter.
Trailing by 18 points going into the final quarter, IS Killorglin switched to a full court press and The Jes struggled to adjust. Keelin Houlihan was causing havoc with his spin moves in the paint and Adrian O’Neill called a time out to get The Jes back on track. Once again Mark Convery was to the fore, while Lorcan O’Mordha scored three crucial consecutive baskets for The Jes.
“The lads are used to tough basketball matches and it stood to us,” said Adrian O’Neill. “This team have lost three semi-finals in the past three years and now we have finally won the final. I’m over the moon.”
Coláiste Iognáid Top Scorers: Lorcan O Mordha 20, Mark Convery 13, Evan Somers 12.
MVP: Mark Convery (Coláiste Iognáid)