Utility Trust St Paul’s 71
Swords Thunder 48
Report: Enda Walshe
Utility Trust St Paul’s made the promised land of the Superleague with a supremely impressive performance in the National Basketball Arena in Tallaght.
It was forged on the back of an outstanding defensive performance which completely suffocated their opponents. Countless times a hand or a finger got in the way of a Swords Thunder pass or shot and, on numerous occasions, bodies were thrown to the floor as they displayed a ravenous appetite for the ball.
Images: St Paul’s
Having gone through the season with only one defeat, ironically to Swords Thunder, it would have been a sickening experience to be turned away from the Superleague whilst standing on its doorstep.
But not for the first time this season, coach James Fleming learned from past encounters as he sent his squad out like wolves scavenging for the ball.
Swords had hit 12 three-pointers in that league win in November but there was no chance of a repeat here as they found themselves under constant pressure.
And it would be too simplistic to say that it was the defensive effort that carried the day as in offence they combined beautifully as key players delivered at just the right time.
Sofia Paska started the game like a house on fire, hitting eight of her sides opening 10 points, with Lorraine Scanlon netting the other. It was obvious at this early stage too that both Paska and Scanlon were winning the battle under the boards. That gave their side a great platform as they held an early 14-7 lead.
Megan Connolly, Laura Fortune and Jasmine Walker found their range for Swords with semi-final top scorer Jensen Caretti under wraps.
Carretti did get off the mark but not before Lynn Jones hit from beyond the arc to leave it 18-10 at quarters end. Jones, Leah McMahon and Meabh Barry had all dovetailed with the starting five, keeping the intensity high at both ends of the court.
Kate Kelly and Laura Fortune were prominent for Swords early in the second quarter so much so that coach Fleming called a timeout. It had the desired effect as Khiarica Rasheed hit two big threes as well as drawing fouls from the Swords’ defence when going inside.
The rotation again reaped dividends with Meabh Barry netting and Rheanne O’Shea hit another three after a brief siesta. Caretti was starting to heat up and despite the best efforts of team captain Peggy Black St Paul’s held a 37-25 lead, heading for the locker rooms.
The third period was an intense battle with a noticeable increase in tempo and that was something which suited St Paul’s as Swords hit team foul trouble early.
Jones, Rasheed, Scanlon and McMahon showed nerves of steel in the electric atmosphere to net from the charity stripe and help push the lead out to 44-30.
The next few minutes were crucial in the overall context of the game as Rasheed hit two in a row, the second created by a brilliant McMahon steal while Scanlon hit another, courtesy of an amazing assist from Denise Dunlea.
Niamh Ni Chonchuir also made a big contribution in this quarter as St Paul’s held Swords to just seven points. If one moment typified the game, it was the sight of Meabh Barry diving headlong into the ground to claim a ball she had no right to win. They refused to bend all day.
With a 51-32 lead the fourth quarter was all about maintaining control. Carretti, Walker and Black tried to whittled down the lead but Scanlon and Paska minded the gap. Scanlon again struck courtesy of a great pass from Jones, who was a defensive giant all through for her side.
Paska and Rasheed answered threes from Caretti and Aisling Sullivan and with both teams retiring for a time out, the lead was now 60-44 with 3.33 to go. The final three minutes saw St Paul’s put the final nail into the Swords coffin with Paska cutting loose and Barry executing a nice move inside.
The St Paul’s bench was emptied with Cliona Coffey and Liadh Tobin now on board and, fittingly, it was joint captain Rheanne O’Shea who had the last word, with a three-pointer, much to the delight of the fervent support that had travelled up from the Kingdom.
The final buzzer sounded as St Paul’s ran out 71-48 winners, clinching themselves the golden ticket to the Superleague in the process.
Sofia Paska hit a game high 23 points, Khiarica Rasheed had 18, Lorraine Scanlon 13, Rheanne OShea six, Lynn Jones five, Meabh Barry five and Leah McMahon two and also involved were Denise Dunlea, Niamh Ni Chonchuir, Cliona Coffey, Liadh Tobin, Siobhan Burns and Aisling Counihan with Siofra O’Shea currently rehabbing from injury.
For Swords Thunder Jensen Caretti was best with 19, Jasmine Walker 10, Kate Kelly six, Peggy Black and Laura Fortune had four each, Aisling O Sullivan hit three and Megan Connolly 2.
On a day where you could give the entire St Paul’s squad an MVP Award, Khiarica Rasheed got the nod for her 18 points and nine rebounds.
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