In a weekend full of overtime games, an extra period was also need to separate Marble City Hawks and Leixlip Amenities Liffey Celtics in a Women’s Super League thriller in Kilkenny on Saturday evening.
However, a first win of the season still remains elusive for the hosts as Celtics powered on in overtime to win out 55-67 in the end behind a stunning display from Kylee Smith. Liffey had the better of the opening half, with Smith, Ailbhe O’Connor and Niamh Masterson all impressing. However, Hawks were only getting started and Elaine Kennington and Cassidy Williams began to assert their authority as the clock wound down, and by full time, the game was tied at 51 points apiece.
Liffey took charge of the overtime period though, with Kylee Smith firmly taking the reins of the game and finished out with 32 points as she helped her side home to victory.
Speaking afterwards, head coach Laura Mullally stated: “I’m very happy with tonight’s road win. Kilkenny played extremely hard and made things challenging, but I thought we were able to find a way to execute in the fourth quarter and in overtime. This was a fun, close competitive game and pressure situations are what it’s all about. Wins like this are what help the team grow, improve and move forward in preparation for next week.”
Maree remain second in the Women’s Super League table thanks to a 58-72 point win over IT Carlow Basketball on the road. A tight opening half saw nothing much between the teams in the early exchanges, with Maree leading 14-19 at the end of the first.
A big push from both sides in the second quarter saw some quality scores from Carlow’s Alyssa Velles and Kaitlyn Slagus, but these were responded to at the other end, with Claire Rockall leading the charge for the visitors to lead 31-40 at the half. The sides remained in touching distance throughout the second half, with Slagus and Velles dominating for the hosts, but Rockall, Fiona Scally and Carly McClendon put up some good scores to keep Maree in front, and they ran out 58-72 point winners in the end.
Basketball Ireland Results: December 5-8th
Basketball Ireland Women’s Super League:
IT Carlow Basketball 58-72 Maree
Fr Mathews 55-63 Pyrobel Killester
Marble City Hawks 55-67 Leixlip Amenities Liffey Celtics (after overtime)
Maxol WIT Wildcats 96-66 Singleton SuperValu Brunell
DCU Mercy 85-72 Ambassador UCC Glanmire
Basketball Ireland Men’s Division One:
Limerick Sports Eagles 66-84 Scotts Lakers St Paul’s Killarney
Ulster University 77-99 Portlaoise Panthers
McGowans Tolka Rovers 74-69 LYIT Donegal
Limerick Celtics 72-91 Tradehouse Central Ballincollig
Fr Mathews 75-70 Limerick Sports Eagles
Tradehouse Central Ballincollig 71-37 Fr Mathews
Waterford Vikings 78-61 LYIT Donegal
McGowans Tolka Rovers 60-79 IT Carlow Basketball
EJ Sligo All-Stars 110-115 Limerick Celtics
