KENMARE EDGE OUT Patrician High School
27th Jan 2010
Kenmare were crowned under 16b champions at the National Basketball Arena despite a late spurt from Patrician High School.
The Kerry outfit were most definitely kings of their castle in the end as he gave a textbook display of inside basketball to clinch the much sought after trophy.
There was little to separate the two teams in the first quarter with Patrician High School hard working point guard, Kevin OHanlon showing terrific shooting skills to fire his side into a early 8-4 lead.
However, Kenmare finished the quarter on a very strong note with four points unanswered from Brian Clifford tying the score at 8-8 at the end of the quarter.
And after the teams return, Kenmare moved ahead with Brian Clifford finishing off a fantastic solo run with a score under the baskets.
A power lay up from Denis O’Neill saw the Munster boys stretch their lead further with Kenmares third basket in a row from Adrian Spillane forcing Patrician High School to call a time out with 5.35 to go in the half.
Down seven points, Newbridge finished the half well with two one-point free throws from Dylan Ogle and Ryan Thornton, to leave the half time score at 17-13 to Kenmare.
The beginning to the second half was high octane stuff to say the least with Kenmare Captain, Gavin Crowley draining an early three pointer for Gavan McCarthys men.
And although Patrician High School had managed to stay in touch with some build up lay, Kenmares fast breaking play was to see them move into a double figures lead with both Crowley and Adrian Spillane recording terrific lay ups on the run to put Kenmare up 31-21 at the end of the third
And with O’Hanlon continuing to call the shots for Newbridge, the Kildare boys made a good go of things in the final quarter with two quick baskets from O’Callaghan and Niall Loughman making it a five point game, 34-29 to Kenmare with 6.04 left in the game.
But in the end there was to be no stopping Kenmare and their captain, Brian Crowley whose 19 points deservedly won him the coveted Golden Ball award presented by Hoops American, Carlton Aaron.
