On Monday, 25 January the senior basketball squad took on the Presentation Convent, Thurles in the closely fought final of the Midlands Senior Shield. The last time these two teams met was before Christmas in the Bower gym and it was a closely fought, exciting contest, between two very different teams. On that occasion Our Lady’s Bower came out on top by just three points.
Presentation Convent,Thurles or Pres,Thurles as they like to be known were the host team for the shield competition and so had a rest after their semi- final against Ursuline .The Bower,on the other hand had to play back to back games.
Tiredness would play it’s part later in the day but in the opening few minutes the Bower struck first blood with Spanish player Beatriz Rios Ruiz scoring from close in. Pres hit back with two quick scores of their own and the opening quarter continued up and down the floor with scores for both sides. Aobh Nic Ghiolla Phadraig and Edel Ryan added two more to close the quarter, with Pres Thurles 8 and Our Lady’s Bower 6.
With only a basket between them and far too early to predict a result, the two teams fought a battle in the 2nd quarter. Because of their size, Pres Thurles were always going to win the physical battle and with considerable latitude from the officials they made the most of this. The smaller, more technically proficient Bower team, won the battle where it counted – on the score board. Aisling Benson and Niamh Brady were fouled going to the basket and made 3 out of 4 from the foul line to punish Thurles for their heavy handed defence. This along with a fine long range shot for 3points from Edel Ryan saw the Bower outscore Pres Thurles 6 points to 5 in the quarter.
Scores at half time: Pres Thurles 13 – 12 Our Lady’s Bower.
If it was close at the first interval it was even closer now, a single point separated the two teams with the second half still to come. Pres,Thurles with the full complement of 12 players pushed on and managed to accumulate 7 points in the quarter. As tiredness started to take its toll, the Bower girls missed several open shots and only managed a solitary basket, courtesy of Aisling Benson,who continued to be a thorn in the side of the much bigger Thurles backline.
The score at the end of the third quarter was Thurles 20 – 14 Our lady’s Bower.
The final quarter was by far the best for the Bower girls. Six points is not a great lead to have going into the final quarter of the game and the Bower team was better equipped to play the smart, tactical game. Thurles had the lead and did not need to commit fouls but clumsy defence from them put Niamh Brady and Aisling Benson on the free throw line again. The two of them kept up their high standard of free throw shooting from earlier in the game and hit 3 out of 4 once more.
On defence, the Bower pressured the Thurles girls into rushed shots and errant passes. With the ball in hand coming down the floor they showed great patience and moved the ball very well to try and get a good shot each time.
Pres. Thurles put pressure on the inside duo for the Bower, Aisling Benson and Niamh Brady, so the ball came back out to the waiting Aobh Nic Ghiolla Phadraig
who hit a much needed three point score.
Thurles attacked down the floor but the Bower girls pressured the shooter and the attempt went harmlessly wide of the basket. The Bower girls matched Thurles score for score in the final quarter but it was not enough to get them out in front on the score board at the end.
When the final Buzzer sounded, an exhausted,tearful and emotional Our Lady’s Bower team left the floor. They had given their all, kept their discipline and kept their heads up. Sadly it was not their day.
Final score: Pres. Thurles 26 – 20 Our Lady’s Bower.
Squad: Niamh Brady(Team Captain), Beatriz Rios Ruiz, Alanna Nic Ghiolla Phadraig, Aobh Nic Ghiolla Phadraig, Edel Ryan, Aisling Benson,Rebecca Armstrong, Grace Halligan.
Coach:Des Reilly.