Loreto College Under 16 basketball success

The Loreto U16 basketball team won the Midland Regional final last week in an exciting and tense game against Coláiste Iosagáin, Portarlington, by a single point.Loreto had qualified through to the final easily with defeats over Mercy Kilbeggan, Moate CS and St. Mary's Edenderry in the league games and semi-final. However, the final proved to be the side's toughest challenge to date. Portarlinton were a very skilful and athletic team and Loreto really were up against tough opposition.In the first quarter, Loreto's superb defence proved to be the key to winning the game. Julie McLoughlin and Brigid Heslin were superb in defending the ball-handlers from Portarlington and denying them any easy drives to the basket. Roisin Scally, Leanne Duncan and Michelle Buckley were getting valuable rebounds under both baskets.It was obvious at the end of the first quarter that this was going to be a close, low-scoring game. Loreto's defence continued to frustrate the Portarlington team and Holly Foley and Tara Foley came into the game to give further strength with Holly's speed on the court vital in preventing Portarlington getting any fast breaks.Tara played a superb game both in defence and in offence by getting into great positions and scoring from rebounds under the basket. In the second half, Loreto managed to get into a 5 point lead which they took into the last quarter. Brigid Heslin scored from an unbelievable drive to the basket while Leanne Duncan was playing her best game of the year and scored a lot of points for her team.Roisin Scally and Michelle Buckley continued to keep out their opponents and minimise the Portarlington scores. Julie McLoughlin was proving to be an absolutely fantastic defender for her team and was almost impossible for the Portarlington team to get by.Portarlington did manage to get back on level terms with Loreto coming into the last minute of the game. The tension was almost unbearable, but Loreto managed to gain possession, and from a drive to the basket by Brigid Heslin, Tara Foley was there to get the rebound and calmly score what was to be the winning basket. There was still time for Portarlington, however, and with only 20 seconds left on the clock, they had two free throws to level the game.They scored the second one, but Loreto managed to inbound the ball and hold onto possession to run down the clock. Loreto won by a single point with a final score of 27-26 in a low-scoring but absolutely fascinating game of basketball. Loreto College are now through to the All-Ireland league play-offs as well as having already qualified through to the All-Ireland Cup semi-final.