Enda Walshe reports
A 26 points haul from Yuleska Tejeda and an MVP performance from Lorraine Scanlon helped St Paul’s eventually overcome a tenacious Marble City Hawks outfit and, in the process, it saw them move clear of Portlaoise Panthers at the top of the Women’s Southern Conference.
The Hawks came to Killarney with only three wins to date this season but their performance belied a team struggling for confidence. They gave St Paul’s a bellyful of it for long periods and even threatened a surprise in the third quarter when they briefly led by four.
But when the need was greatest Tejeda, Scanlon and, to a lesser extent, Sofia Paska came up with the goods and they were kept honest right to the final buzzer by the chasing Hawks.
It secured a vital win for the home side who face an arduous weekend when they travel to Lisburn on Saturday to meet the Phoenix Rockets and turn the ship around to come home and face Oblate Dynamos on Sunday in the Killarney Sports and Leisure Centre.
Given the quality of the opposition they face on Saturday and the 900km round trip involved, Sunday’s game will prove to be a test of their fitness and recovery powers. While the latest win was achieved coach James Fleming will have much to work on in the week ahead as his side struggled to perform to its usual high fluidity.
It all looked like it was going to plan as soon as the first play as Rheanne O’Shea netted a trademark three-pointer. Leah McMahon was also handed a start alongside Tejeda, Paska and Denise Dunlea while the Hawks were hoping the dynamic duo of Caleigh Raby and Tania Stewart would get them firing early.
It was 17-9 to Killarney at the end of the opening quarter and 28-24 at half-time but the Hawks struck the first blow in the third with a Maria Connolly three.
Scanlon, with a lay-up following a nice assist from Rheanne O’Shea responded, but the Hawks hit a purple patch with Elaine Kennington, Raby and Prendergast helping them into a three-point lead 33-30.
The jolt of going behind kick started Paul’s into a reaction and Paska, Tejeda and Scanlon all finished the quarter with gusto to open up a 44-35 lead, Rably getting the sole response.
St Paul’s, wary of giving the Hawks any further encouragement, kept their foot firmly on the gas and Rheanne O’Shea got the fourth quarter going with a neat basket, soon followed up by a Denise Dunlea three.
Paska and Scanlon had to answer eight points from Stewart, which included two threes, and the lead was still nine, 54-45, with four minutes to go.
That gap was never narrowed despite the best efforts of Raby, Stewart and Whiteley as Tejeda and Jessica Quirke stole in for baskets.
When the final buzzer sounded St Paul’s were victorious on a 64-55 scoreline.
Yuleska Tejeda was the game’s top scorer with 26, MVP Lorraine Scanlon had 14, Sofia Paska 12, Rheanne O’Shea and Denise Dunlea had five a piece while Jessica Quirke hit two.
For the Marble City Hawks Tiana Stewart was best with 18.
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