Promotion to the top flight of the National Basketball League ultimately evaded both teams but there was no shortage of St Paul’s Killarney celebrations when the Basketball Ireland All-Star selections for the 2022/23 season were revealed this Friday.
Hotshot Jack Ferguson was named on the Men’s Division 1 star team in recognition of the free-scoring American’s huge contribution to the Scott’s Lakers campaign while in the Women’s Division 1 All-Stars line-up both Sofia Paska and Yuleska Ramirez of St Paul’s were included.
The St Paul’s ladies were right in contention until the end of the season but ultimately suffered heartbreak in the play-offs held at the National Basketball Arena in Tallaght.
The All-Stars were voted for by the coaches in each division with five players from each of the four leagues given first team honours, with seconnd and third teams also selected.
Meanwhile, De’ondre Jackson of Tralee Warriors was named on the SuperLeague second team and his clubmate Daniel Jokubaitis was chosen on the third team.
In other basketball news, one of the great Killarney women’s players of her generation will be remembered at a special tournament in her memory this Saturday.
With teams from throughout Kerry participating, the Play for Palliative under 18 boy’s tournament, at Milltown Community Centre, is dedicated to the memory of Evelyn O’Regan (née Horgan) who was a very accomplished basketballer and a great coach in her day.
Mum-of-four Evelyn, from Ardshanavooley and formerly from St Brendan’s Terrace in Killarney, passed away in the palliative care unit of University Hospital Kerry in November 2020.
The tournament will run from 9.00am to 6.00pm and all proceeds will be donated to the Kerry Hospice medical and catering staff.
A GoFundMe page has been set up and donations can be made at https://www.gofundme.com/f/play-for-palliative-care.
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