Utility Trust St Paul’s 87
Dublin Lions 64
Report: Enda Walshe
With a four game advantage with five outings to go, it would take a Devon Loch moment for Utility Trust St Paul’s to relinquish their grip on the Southern Conference title.
When one looks back at the season to date the victories over Cavan Eagles and Templeogue stand out but it would be hard to trump this latest win over the double chasing National Cup candidates Abbey Seals Dublin Lions.
The Lions landed in Killarney on the back of a very impressive semi-final win over the aforementioned Eagles and in December player of the month Sidney Kin, they have a real jewel.
But kudos must go to the coach of the month James Fleming and his squad who grabbed this game by the scruff of the neck early doors and put forward their credentials as contenders for promotion to the Superleague.
An 87-points hail was impressive shooting but probably even more emphatic was the manner in which they curtailed the influence of the prolific Kin. In that regard, it can be accredited to both Sofia Paska and Lorraine Scanlon for having the ‘shop closed’ signs up and that stranglehold gave St Paul’s a real platform for success.
A deeper drill down into the team performances highlights four players – Khiarica Rasheed, Sofia Paska, Lorraine Scanlon and Denise Dunlea – in double figures. The latter was a worthy recipient of the game MVP as she gave a stellar display, stepping into the void created by the absence of joint captains Rheanne O’Shea and Lynn Jones.
Dunlea was modest in her post match reflections: “Everyone stepped up. Meabh Barry and Niamh Ni Chonchuir really made a difference with Lynn and Rheanne missing. It’s very enjoyable playing in this team. Everyone played unbelievably well.”
Sophia Widmeyer gave the Lions an early leg up with a big three and later found Kin for another basket. The visitors held an early 7-2 advantage as they opened brightly, but Dunlea was on fire from beyond the arc and, alongside Paska and Scanlon, that lead was soon wiped out.
Niamh Ni Chonchuir sprang from the bench to nail a basket and with Rasheed and Meabh Barry finding their range, St Paul’s were starting to purr at 25-15. A pair of threes from Rasheed before quarters end emphasised that point and despite Kin and Emily Smyth efforts, the visitors were in arrears by 31-17.
The Lions came out a different beast for the second quarter and 11 rapid points between Kin and Widmeyer heralded a home timeout. That served to steady the ship as Rasheed, Paska, and Scanlon stamped their authority on the game to reopen a healthy lead, 45-30.
Niamh Ni Chonchuir, dovetailing her time with Leah McMahon, was an influential presence at this stage, her mobility helping to beat the Lions press, and she added to the home side’s total as did Dunlea and Paska . Despite Ciara Wheeler’s best efforts, the lead was opened out to 20, 54-34 at the halfway juncture.
With a cup final looming for the Dublin Lions, the third quarter was all about suppressing any ideas they had of a comeback and a pair of Widmeyer threes was cancelled out by Dunlea who had her most productive quarter. Widmeyer and Kin were finding it difficult to get any change out of a miserly Paul’s defence as Paska and Rasheed quelled any talk of a renaissance.
Early baskets by Scanlon and Rasheed in the final quarter really knocked the stuffing out of the Lions, and sensing the game was up, they rotated their bench. Having put themselves in a powerful position, coach James Fleming did likewise giving Aisling Counihan, Cliona Coffey and Liadh Tobin well-deserved game time and it did little to disrupt their rhythm.
Leah McMahon hit a three to cement her contribution while Tobin made her night’s work with a neat basket. Rasheed and Paska also added to their totals as the clock ran down to a very impressive 87-64 victory.
Khiarica Rasheed was St Paul’s top scorer with 23 points. The dominant Sofia Paska had 20, MVP Denise Dunlea shot 17, Lorraine Scanlon 13, Niamh Ni Chonchuir hit seven, Leah McMahon three and Liadh Tobin and Meabh Barry had two each.
For the defending cup champions, Sophia Widmeyer was best with 23, Sydney Kin shot 18, Gillian Wheeler had eight and her sister Ciara hit six.
James Fleming found it hard to find fault in his team’s performance: “Everyone did a super job for us, especially Sofia Paska who did a massive defensive effort on Sidney Kin. Lorraine Scanlon is unbelievable – I don’t know how she does it,”he said.
“Last year Denise Dunlea was carrying an injury and tonight she was immense. Niamh Ni Chonchuir gave us great energy off the bench, for a young girl Leah McMahon was immense. We were missing two legends of Killarney basketball in Rheanne and Lynn but tonight shows us how much strength in depth we have.”
Looking ahead. the team sits pretty on top of the Southern Conference but all focus is now on the next game.
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