Brunell basketballers battle hard but fall to double-chasing Liffey Celtics
Brunell's Danielle O'Leary scores unchallenged against Liffey Celtics, during their Women's Super League clash at the Parochial Hall. Picture: David Keane.
Brunell were outgunned in the fourth quarter by Liffey Celtics in a highly entertaining Women’s Super League clash at the GCU Arena on Sunday.
The Cork side, without ever excelling, battled to the wire but the Kildare side withstood a second-half rally and stayed on track to complete the elusive double in Irish basketball.
The visitors were quick into their stride with Alexandra Navarrete opening up with a neat jumper before Trinity Hudson immediately responded with a lay-up.
Celtics were also keen on pushing the ball quickly from the back court and when Aine O’Connor finished in style they edged into a six-point lead in the third minute.The biggest problem Brunell encountered in the opening five minutes was their inability to score as they were struggling to break down some good Celtics defending.
In the closing minutes, both sides served up some scrappy basketball but Celtics' ability to execute key baskets ensured the Kildare side commanded a 22-11 lead entering the second quarter. Hazel Finn intercepted and made a basket in the opening Liffey possession as Brunell continued to struggle in the offence court.
Indeed, little changed in the opening four minutes but with Liffey going through a little drought on the scoring front a Megan O’Leary basket and bonus reduced the deficit to 10 points.
It is noticeable this season that the Brunell American pairing of Hudson and Deaja Richardson haven’t been putting up the numbers for their team to be competitive. Up to the 16th minute, all the professional duo could muster up was six points each and with three minutes remaining to the interval the home side trailed 35-24.
Both sides continued to battle hard to the interval but Brunell were still very much within striking distance despite trailing by eight points 37-29. The home stats of the home team at the break didn’t make pretty reading only making 7/18 inside the arc and 3/13 outside a paltry 23%.
The home side opened up with a three-pointer and basket and Hudson had an opportunity to reduce the deficit to three points but amazingly missed an open lay-up.
There is little doubt Celtics were on the ropes as they called a time-out three minutes into the quarter and when Thornton drained a free throw the lead was down to five points.
Thornton was outstanding in the early exchanges of this period but had to be replaced following a cramp.
The home side to be fair got within one point of their opponents with 1.33 remaining but Aine O’Connor responded with a basket and bonus.
Trailing 54-50 entering the fourth quarter Brunell needed a good start but Celtics, inspired by captain Aine O’Connor, opened up with consecutive baskets.
Try as they did Brunell couldn’t execute good opportunities as Liffey stumbled over the line after a true test from their Cork opponents.
T Hudson 14, A Walshe 13, E Thornton 12, D Richardson 11.
A Navarette 29, A O’Connor 21, H Finn 12.
K Sexton, R Sexton, L Hannigan, A Walshe, L Homan, D O’Leary, I McSweeney, E Thornton, T Hudson, A Lyons, D Richardson, C Downey, M O’Leary.
K Bracken, K O’Flaherty, C Bracken, E Williams, R Huijsdens, K O’Sullivan, C Boyce, S Tiernan, H Finn, A Navarette, A O’Connor.
Peter James Coughlan (Cork), Carolyn O’Mahony (Kerry).
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